Columbia, MO April 2026

ROOTED IN GROWTH, BUILT TO LAST

The moment he gets the green light.

From your first business account to expanding into more locations… Life is full of important moments. With our modern banking solutions, managing your business’s finances becomes effortless and efficient. So you can focus on the moments that matter most.

Proud supporter of the moments that matter.

QUALITY. GUARANTEED.

Craftsmanship You Can Trust

Don’t settle when it comes to your home. Our remodeler members combine years of experience with proven quality to help you reimagine your space with confidence.

We Build Communities.

Real Estate Leadership

Worth the Investment

When most people hear the word “investment,” they think of money. Retirement accounts. Real estate. Business ventures. The things we can measure, track, and grow over time.

But some of the most important investments don’t show up on a statement.

This month, we invite you to widen the lens.

In “Wealth Needs Wisdom,” Dr. Julia Myers reminds us that while external investments grow money, internal investments grow character, and both are essential to what lasts.

In “Protection that Lasts Generations,” Wingate Pest & Lawn Care shares how more than 50 years of service reflects an investment in stability, trust, and peace of mind.

We are also honored to feature Tim Tebow, who reframes “Most Valuable Player” as “Most Vulnerable People,” a powerful reminder that true impact goes far beyond recognition.

And Ai Painting Plus shows that even the spaces we live in deserve thoughtful investment, not just for appearance, but for long-term value and care.

As a mother-daughter team, this one hits close to home. What we’re building today, in business, in family, and in our community, is shaping what comes next.

This month, we encourage you to look beyond dollars and returns and invest in what truly matters.

Because the best returns don’t always show up on a statement.

With gratitude,

LEANNE SULLIVAN, PUBLISHER

SHEA SULLIVAN, EDITOR

@COLUMBIACITYLIFESTYLE

April 2026

PUBLISHER

Leanne Sullivan | leanne.sullivan@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Shea Sullivan | shea.sullivan@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Sarah Jane Shorthose | mail@sjanephotography.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Julia Myers | julia@juliamyers.com

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Liz Nixon

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick

Betz Jewelers Estate Jewelry Show

Friday, April 17 | 9am-5pm Saturday, April 18 | 9am-2pm

For two days only, come shop an incredible, curated selection of fine vintage and estate jewelry from all of your favorite eras, including: Art Deco | Edwardian | Mid-Century | Retro ...and more!

Each piece has been evaluated and graded by a graduate gemologist. Shop these amazing pieces and learn more about them as you shop!

Guiding People Home

— With Experience, Strategy, & Care

With more than 35 years of combined experience, Kris Ballage and Patricia Maurer bring deep local knowledge, strategic insight, and a calm, thoughtful approach to every transaction. Kris’s background in construction and development offers a foundation-tofinish perspective, while Patricia’s research-driven approach ensures clients feel informed and confident every step of the way.

Most important to us, though, is how our clients experience the process.

“We highly recommend Kris and Patricia for their integrity, dedication, and knowledge. They were patient, accessible, and wonderful to work with.”

— Richard & Bonnie B., Columbia

“Kris and Patricia were knowledgeable, responsive, and guided us through every detail. Our home sold within four hours, and their support through closing meant everything to us.”

— Cathy C., Round Top, TX

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

on February 7 was a fun night of cocktails and community. Guests mixed custom drinks, made jewelry and bouquets, and shopped local vendors. Sweet treats, photo ops, and cute details everywhere celebrated friendship, small businesses, and just being together.

8-14: On February 13, First Responder Support’s “You Have My Heart” Gala packed the Northeast Event Center to honor Columbia’s everyday heroes. Live auction, raffles, and bourbon/wine pulls all raised money for first responders. The night showed real community strength as everyone came together to celebrate and give back. Want to be seen in the magazine?

business monthly

Carter’s Coffee Bar Opens in Columbia

Carter’s Coffee Bar, a family-owned drive-thru coffee shop founded by mother and daughter Debbie Carter and Ciara Weese, opened in early February at 4505 Stellar Drive. Known for its Pacific Northwest inspired coffee experience, the shop offers coffee, Lotus plant based energy drinks, and specialty beverages with convenient drive thru and walk-up service. After success in Quincy, Illinois, the brand is expanding into Mid-Missouri with a strong community focus.

Red Shoe Gala Raises Over $250,000 for Local Families

The 2026 Red Shoe Gala, presented by Commerce Bank, took place February 19 at The Atrium in downtown Columbia. The evening welcomed 350 guests and raised more than $250,000 for Ronald McDonald House Mid-Missouri. Funds provide lodging, meals, and daily amenities at no cost while children receive medical care. The gala remains one of the organization’s largest fundraisers, helping families stay close during challenging times.

Pictured: 2026 Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors

ATHENA International Awards Return

The Women’s Network will host the ATHENA International Awards on April 30 from 6 to 8 PM at Cooper’s Ridge Event Venue. The evening honors leaders who demonstrate professional excellence while mentoring and uplifting women. The 2026 ATHENA Leadership and Young Professional recipients will be announced. Guests will enjoy heavy appetizers and a cash bar. Tickets range from $55 to $75. Registration closes April 23 at business.comochamber.com.

Pictured: 2025 winners Jen Hedrick and Dr. Arminta Phelps.

ARTICLE BY JULIA MYERS

WEALTH Needs WISDOM

The investment most families avoid is costing them

everything.

Most successful families are building wealth and losing it at the same time. Just not in the way they expect. Retirement accounts are funded. College savings plans are open. Real estate and business ventures are growing. But very few families talk about money in a way that builds maturity. We tend to focus on external investments. These matter. They build financial independence. Yet there is another category that quietly determines whether those assets last. External investments grow money. Internal investments grow character. If someone receives money before the maturity to manage it, the money rarely survives.

THE GAP MOST FAMILIES DO NOT SEE

Picture two families. Both have funded retirement accounts, college savings plans, and growing investment portfolios. Both are doing everything right on paper financially. Ten years from now, one family's wealth will still be building. The other's will be quietly eroding. The difference will not be the returns on their index funds. It will be the financial behaviors their children absorbed as they grew.

I have worked with high-earning families across the country, and the pattern is remarkably consistent. Parents pour energy into building assets and almost none into building the mindset needed to manage them.

The Williams Group, a nationally recognized estate-transition firm with data on more than 2,500 affluent families, found that 70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation and

90% by the third. The top two causes were a breakdown in communication and trust, and heirs who were simply not prepared.

A 2025 Fidelity study found that only one in four parents with a net worth of $500,000 or more felt confident their children could handle what they would eventually inherit. They avoid one key move. They do not define what money means at home. Without that clarity, children fill in the blanks. Sometimes with entitlement. Sometimes with anxiety. Sometimes with silence. A debit card without standards does not build maturity. A college tuition payment without shared expectations does not teach accountability. An inheritance without preparation often creates confusion, not security. The issue is rarely poor investing. It is unclear communication.

Dr. Brad Klontz, a financial psychologist, coined the term money scripts to describe the subconscious stories we carry about money, absorbed in childhood without anyone intending to teach them. Unless you name them, you will pass them on. And that silence runs in both directions. Many parents navigating these conversations with their teenagers are simultaneously avoiding them with their own aging parents. This is the sandwich generation in its quietest and most costly form.

GOING TO THE GYM ONCE DOES NOT MAKE YOU FIT

Financial literacy is like a semester of high school health class. Students learn the principles. But learning how to live it starts at home. You can teach a teenager what the stock market is. You cannot teach them what money means. In our house, one phrase

"Wealth, without wisdom, is wasted."

- Dr. Julia Myers

gets repeated until my kids say it back: “You can buy anything, but you cannot buy everything.” Six words. Years of reps. That’s how it works.

Morgan Housel writes in The Psychology of Money that doing well with money has little to do with intelligence and everything to do with behavior. Your children aren’t watching your balance sheet. They watch how you respond when the bill comes and whether your calendar reflects values you say matter most. Behavior is the curriculum. You’re teaching it whether you intend to or not.

TWO TYPES OF INVESTMENTS EVERY FAMILY SHOULD FUND

Every family manages two portfolios. You get a quarterly statement for one. There isn’t a statement for the other—no benchmark, no alert when the balance runs low— which is why it’s so easy to neglect.

In our family, we prioritize travel. The kids manage the itinerary, budget, and logistics for a day on every trip. It has to be lived. The same principle applies to a first car. Funding it is the external investment. Requiring your teenager to cover maintenance, keep the deductible untouched in their account, and understand what happens when, not if, an emergency expense occurs, is the internal investment. One without the other teaches entitlement. Together they teach ownership.

THE COST OF AVOIDING THE CONVERSATION

Avoiding money conversations feels easier short term. It keeps the peace. But the long term cost is real. Children may grow up believing money simply appears. Siblings carry different assumptions into adulthood. Parents feel resentment when generosity is not met with gratitude.

"Disappointment is always the difference between expectation and reality."

By the time the cost becomes visible, the opportunity to prevent it has usually passed. The solution is not another spreadsheet. It is clarity. And clarity starts with a conversation.

THREE QUESTIONS WORTH MORE THAN ANY FINANCIAL PLAN

You do not need a financial degree. You need a kitchen table and a little courage.

What is money for in our family?

In our home, who pays for what, and why?

"Start the conversation. It is never too late. And if it feels hard now, it will only feel harder if you wait."

How do we show gratitude when someone invests in us?

These are not a curriculum. They are a starting point.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE THE STATISTIC

Past financial performance is not an indication of future results, and neither is past family behavior. The patterns running quietly through your household can be interrupted. Right now. By you. Are your kids prepared, or just provided for? Is what you are leaving them a blessing or a burden? Those are not rhetorical questions. They are the most important financial planning questions your family will ever face. And they cost nothing to ask.

Start the conversation. It is never too late. And if it feels hard now, it will only feel harder if you wait.

Dr. Julia Myers is a TEDx Speaker and Founder of Generational Wisdom® and mom to five, ages 10 to 22.  For more resources and to get a FREE Family Financial Conversation Starters visit www.juliamyers.com/talk

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.

PROTECTION THAT LASTS GENERATIONS

HOW A FAMILY AND VETERAN OWNED COMPANY PROTECTS MID MISSOURI HOMES THROUGH PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND LONG TERM PEST AND LAWN CARE SOLUTIONS.

For more than 50 years, Wingate Pest & Lawn has proudly protected homes across Mid-Missouri. What began as a one-truck local service has grown into a multigeneration family company built on reliability, education, and trust.

Bryan joined the business in 1994 after graduating from the University of Missouri Business School and serving in the Marine Corps. He worked alongside founder John Wingate for more than a decade before purchasing the company in 2006. Years later, his daughter Alexa followed while studying biology and business at Mizzou, eventually bringing her husband Luke into the company as well. Today, three generations of family leadership still treat every service call like their own.

That legacy shapes how they approach protection.

“As a local and veteran-owned business, our responsibility is reliability,” the team explains. “You should be able to call your pest provider and know the solution you receive is the best option for your home and family.”

Being local matters. The Wingate team understands Mid-Missouri’s seasonal swings, pest pressures, and lawn conditions because they live in the same neighborhoods they serve. Every employee is trained across services, so customers never get bounced between sales and technicians. The person answering the phone can explain treatments, and the technician at the door can answer the “what if” questions that matter most.

April marks the start of peak season, especially for termites as colonies expand and search for new homes. A hidden infestation can quietly threaten one of your largest investments. Wingate offers free inspections and proactive treatments backed by lifetime, transferable warranties, helping homeowners protect both property value and peace of mind before damage begins.

Wingate’s philosophy centers on prevention first. Rather than relying on heavy chemical schedules, the company practices

Integrated Pest Management, focused on identifying and solving problems before they require extensive treatment.

Most residential programs include three scheduled treatments per year rather than monthly applications. Missouri winters naturally slow pest activity, so focusing service during active seasons maintains protection while reducing unnecessary exposure. If pests appear between visits, follow-up service is included, creating a predictable shield instead of reactive service calls.

The Perimeter and Perimeter Plus programs create a protective boundary around the home. Exterior treatments help stop pests from getting inside, while interior service is always available if needed. The Plus program expands coverage to termites and rodents, addressing the structural threats most likely to create expensive surprises for homeowners.

Termite protection is one of the most important investments a homeowner can make. Wingate’s Termidor HP II system eliminates infestations in three months or less without drilling inside the home or installing disruptive bait systems. The treatment comes with a lifetime, transferable warranty covering up to $250,000 in future damage, adding real value for current owners and future buyers.

Warmer months bring additional risks outdoors. The Stop the Bites program targets mosquitoes and ticks through seasonal monthly treatments beginning in early spring. With tick-related illnesses on the rise in Mid-Missouri, reducing populations around the home lowers exposure risk for families and pets while making outdoor spaces more comfortable to enjoy.

Lawn care follows the same prevention mindset. A healthy yard starts with soil health and strong roots, not just surface color. Wingate’s six-step program combines fertilizers, biological treatments, and weed control to build density and resilience. Services such as aeration, overseeding, fungicides, and soil sampling address Mid-Missouri’s moisture and clay-heavy soil challenges, protecting curb appeal and property value.

After decades in business, the Wingate team remains most proud of its relationships. Generations of customers have grown up alongside the company, from young families in their first homes to alumni returning to Columbia. Living in the community daily has allowed them to understand local needs and protect the health and property of neighbors they know by name.

Wingate’s partnership with Mizzou is a natural extension of that commitment. As proud alumni, the family has seen how the university shapes Columbia, creates opportunities, and brings the community together. Supporting the Tigers helps continue that mission and gives back to the place that has given so much to them.

Being a sponsor allows them to celebrate Mizzou while standing alongside the people and traditions that make Mid-Missouri feel like home. It’s a reminder that the same neighbors protecting your house are also investing in the health and success of the community they share.

Protecting homes, families, and property value isn’t just a service call. For Wingate Pest & Lawn, it’s a long-term commitment and an investment in the place they call home too—now and for future generations.

Contact Wingate Pest & Lawn:  573-446-0102

wingatepestandlawn.com

“BEING LOCAL MEANS WE PROTECT THE SAME HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND NEIGHBORHOODS WE LIVE IN.”

Redefining MVP: TIM TEBOW’S LIFE BEYOND FOOTBALL

An exclusive Q&A with City Lifestyle

ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

From championship trophies to global humanitarian impact, Tim Tebow’s journey has defied every standard playbook. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Tebow pulls back the curtain on the moments that truly defined him, from a humbling middle school church retreat to the life-altering shift of fatherhood. This isn’t just a look back at a career; it’s an invitation into the heart of a man driven by purpose. Read the highlights below, then join us for the full, unfiltered experience by scanning the QR code at the end.

Q: WE ALL KNOW YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, BUT TELL US ABOUT THE CURL CONTEST.

A: I was competing for my future high school team (my brother’s team), and I pushed myself way past what was smart. I ended up collapsing and needing medical attention. But what stayed with me wasn’t the pain, it was the lesson. Would I be willing to do something that others aren’t? For much of my life, I strived to bring my best for a game, but I hope that I can say at the end of my life I was willing to do that for things that actually matter.

Q: YOU’VE ACHIEVED SO MUCH IN SPORTS. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT NOW?

A: Becoming a dad. Nothing compares. From the moment I knew my wife was pregnant, I felt a new depth of love for our child, but when you bring your baby home, the responsibility hits you like nothing else. Suddenly, everything you see, every decision you make, you’re asking, “Is this corner too sharp? What happens if she reaches that drawer?” It changes how you see the world and how you see other people.

Q: YOU’VE SPOKEN OPENLY ABOUT DISAPPOINTMENT, ESPECIALLY AROUND FOOTBALL. HOW DID THAT SEASON OF LIFE SHAPE YOU?

A: I talked a lot about that very thing in my book Shaken . We all go through moments where our faith in our abilities and purpose feels rattled, but I believe it’s often in those storms when God can show us who we could become.

Q: YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT COMPARISON CULTURE. WHY DO YOU BELIEVE COMPARISON HAS BECOME SUCH A TRAP TODAY?

A: Because we’re comparing our real, everyday lives to someone else’s highlight reel. Social media shows people’s “best day,” often filtered and staged, and then we measure our reality against that. There’s a reason filters are so popular—it’s not real. We end up scrolling through images that don’t tell the full story, and without realizing it, comparison starts to steal our joy and our gratitude.

“We’re comparing our real, everyday lives to someone else’s highlight reel... comparison starts to steal our joy.”

Q: YOUR FOUNDATION FOCUSES ON THE “MOST VULNERABLE.” WHERE DID THAT CALLING BEGIN?

A: When I was 15, I met a boy in the Philippines who was treated as a throwaway because he was born with physical differences. That moment changed me. I realized God was calling me to pursue a different kind of MVP, not “Most Valuable Player,” but “Most Vulnerable People.”

Q: FINALLY, WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

A: I have some weird coffee habits, which include protein powder, collagen, and cream all mixed together. I love golf dates with my wife. And every night, I bring snacks to bed to share with our dogs. It brings me more joy than it probably should.

This conversation barely scratches the surface. Tim goes deeper into the moments that rattled him, the joys of fatherhood, and one story he has never shared publicly until now. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on Share the Lifestyle Podcast.

YOUR BEST ROI: A Paint Job Done Right

Smart prep and lasting results from Ai Painting Plus

ARTICLE BY SHEA SULLIVAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

Homeowners often pick painters by lowest price, then wonder why the paint peels, flashes, or needs redoing a few years later. Ai Painting Plus flips that approach: a quality paint job isn’t an expense. It’s an investment that protects and boosts your home’s value long-term.

What most don’t realize is paint is only as strong as the surface it sticks to. Their team invests serious time in thorough prep: cleaning walls, scraping loose paint, sanding rough spots, caulking gaps, repairing cracks, sealing stains, and using the right primer. Skip those steps, and you’re just painting over problems that resurface later. Done right, the finish resists moisture, wear, and early failure, critical for Columbia’s humid summers and harsh winters.

Protection during the job matters just as much. The crew treats homes like their own, covering floors and furniture, masking off areas, keeping walkways safe, shielding landscaping, and tidying daily. Mid-project changes? They’re handled with straightforward cost/timeline discussions, no end-of-job sticker shock.

The final walkthrough ensures every detail is perfect before they pack up. The payoff? A home that looks fresh and cared-for, holds its value better than a rushed job, and makes a lasting first impression for buyers. Fresh paint signals maintenance while protecting surfaces from weather and wear.

For Ai Painting Plus, it’s about more than walls. It’s homeowners feeling respected from quote to cleanup. That’s the kind of investment that pays dividends.

Our motorized window treatments give you precise control over light, temperature, and privacy indoors and out Built for durability and energy efficiency, they adjust seamlessly to your schedule, from welcoming morning light to blocking afternoon heat With expert local installation and smart home integration, comfort and style are always within reach

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

APRIL 11TH

That’s What She Said-Columbia

The Missouri Theatre | 7:00 PM

Since 2023, That’s What She Said Columbia has inspired the community through stories shared by local women. From 7–9 PM, nine speakers share stories of success, joy, hardship, and resilience. Produced and directed by Allie Teagarden, the event benefits Voluntary Action Center, supporting hygiene products for women in need. Tickets are $40 and include a complimentary beverage and sweet treat.

APRIL 23RD

The Wellness Way’s 25th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting

The Wellness Way-Columbia | 5:00 PM

Join The Wellness Way as they celebrate 25 years serving Fayette and Columbia with a Chamber Ribbon Cutting and open house. The event begins at 5 PM, with the official ribbon cutting at 5:30 PM. Food and drinks will be provided.

Patient Appreciation Month:

Established patients receive adjustments for $25, and new patients can schedule for $75 throughout the month.

APRIL 26TH

MOSY in Bloom

The Club at Old Hawthorne | 2:00 PM

Celebrate MOSY in Bloom with an afternoon High Tea from 2 to 4 PM at The Ballroom at The Club at Old Hawthorne. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite hat or fascinator for this festive spring gathering. Tickets: $50 adults | $25 students 12 and under Purchase at mosy.org

Unlock financial freedom with exciting new strategies that make your money work for you. We can help you find options to fit your needs today and your plans for the future.

Call or drop by today: 573-256-0048

3200 S. Providence Rd., Columbia GreatSouthernBank.com/Financial-Wellness

Investing in and Supporting Our Communities