October 2026

A newsletter about and for the Members of THE CHAMBER THAT HAS IT ALL!

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MEMBER NEWS

Your go-to place for highlights, announcements, milestones, and noteworthy news that have been shared with The Chamber.

Timberline Landscapes

Shannon Whittemore - 10 years

Join us in celebrating Shannon Whittemore’s upcoming 10th anniversary with Timberline! From selling large-scale maintenance packages to scheduling and designing small spaces, Shannon does it all with passion and expertise. Her dedication has helped drive 250%+ growth in our LandCare division over the past 5 years. Cheers to Shannon!

Honey Nail Lounge

Opens Newest Location

Honey Nail Lounge opened their newest location in Kirkwood Crossing next to Office Depot and Burlington Coat Factory. They are excited to offer master nail techs who can do any nail type and/or design. As part of their luxury feel, they also offer complimentary drinks, waxing and a luxurious Head Spa. Congratulations on your expansion!

Mattress Dogzzz

Opens New Location

Congratulations to Mattress Dogzzz as they celebrate their newest location in Glen Carbon. They are celebrating with a grand opening event on October 24th and will be supporting Open Door Animal Sanctuary with a Pet Adoption Event that day from 11am - 2pm. Congratulations on your newest location.

Vista Dermatology

Welcome Erica Westbrooks and Erin Yoffie!

Vista Dermatology is thrilled to welcome Erica Westbrooks, PA-C and Erin Yoffie, PA-C to Vista Dermatology! With a combined 34 years of private practice dermatology experience, they bring incredible expertise to our team. We are so excited to expand appointment availability for our patients, including urgent visits.

Crompton Pancoast Law

Jennifer Crompton - President, Missouri Bar

Jennifer Crompton of Crompton Pancoast was elected as 2026-2027 president of The Missouri Bar and sworn in Sept. 17 during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar, held in Kansas City. During her term as president, Crompton wants to empower Missouri lawyers to even better serve their clients and communities through a focus on education.

Ellis Dental

$2,500 donation to Make-A-Wish

Ellis Dental is excited to announce they were able to donate over $2500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation - Missouri/Kansas Chapter. This summer, Ellis Dental ran a Whitening For Wishes campaign to help raise awareness and funds to assist in helping a child's wish come true. It is always an honor to support our community through organizations like this!

Social Traction Studios

Four-Year Anniversary

For the past four years, Social Traction Studios has been helping local businesses put the social back in social media with strategy, content creation, and real community-building. Half of those years have been in Greater St. Louis. Cheers to many more years of success.

Kirkwood Public Library

Courtney Flesch Celebrates 15 Years at the Library!

Kirkwood Public Library is excited to celebrate Courtney Flesch, who has been with the library for 15 years. Courtney is the manager of our customer service department, and you may have seen her when you come to check out your books, media, and more at the library! THANK YOU, Courtney!

First Community Credit Union

First Exclusive KSDF Enrichment Grant Sponsor

First Community is proud to expand its partnership with the Kirkwood School District as the first and only exclusive sponsor of the foundation's Enrichment Grant Program. Supporting our community and local schools is central to who we are.

Sugar Creek Farms

Outstanding Customer Service Award

The US Chamber of Commerce has awarded Sugar Creek Gardens a CO-100 Honoree and Customer Champion for outstanding customer service and community impact. Sugar Creek was one of 100 selected out of 12,000 applicants. The top 10 companies are then honored as featured winners in Washington, D.C. CONGRATULATIONS!

STL HEADLINER AWARDS

LET'S CELEBRATE OUR CHAMBER AWARD WINNERS FOR 2026

The STL Headliner Awards are an annual readers’ choice program presented by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, recognizing businesses and organizations voted among the best in the St. Louis region across more than 140 categories.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THESE CHAMBER MEMBERS!

Friendship Village

Friendship Village took home

multiple awards for:

Best Assisted Living Facility
Best Senior Independent Living
Best Rehabilitation Facility
Favorite Skilled Nursing Facility

First Community Credit Union

First Community Credit Union took home two awards:

Best Credit Union
Favorite: Mortgage Company

Otto Orthodontics

Otto Orthodontics took home

the Health & Medical Professional award for:

Best Orthodontists

Advance Carpet One

Floor & Home

Advance Carpet One received awards for:

Best Customer Service
Best Home Improvement Company
All-Star Award – Community Category
All-Star Award – Home Services Category

Logan Taylor, NY Life

Congratulations to Logan Taylor

for his award as:

Best Financial Advisor

VitalSkin Dermatology

Molly Conroy of VitalSkin Dermatology took home

the Health & Medical Professional award for:

Favorite Dermatologist

The Sparkle Cleaning Company

Congratulations to the Sparkle Cleaning Company for their

award as:

Favorite Cleaning Service

The Magic House

The Magic House took home the award for:

Favorite Kid's Birthday Party Venue

BTP by Alison

Congratulations, Alison Hillman of BTP by Alison

for her award as:

Favorite Photographer

NEW MEMBERS

Ryan Morris - Advanced Carpet One

Abby Lapides - Sugar Creek Gardens

Eileen Mitchell - Sourdough & Co.

Katlyne Hodge - Equitas Accounting

CHAMBER-VERSERIES

Liane Constantine - Soulmade Designs - 1 year

Bill Hill - Visor, Inc - 1 year

Will Skowyra - Kirkwood United Soccer Club - 1 year

Tony Hart - Bone Dry Roofing - 1 year

Melissa Rolfes - Melissa Rolfes, LLC - 1 year

Tia Einarsen - OEO Energy Solutions - 3 years

Kathryn Jamboretz - Jamboretz Public Relations - 3 years

Alison Hillman - BTP by Alison - 3 years

Melissa Lindsey - Assistance Home Care - 3 years

Shirley Gray - Medicare Insurance, LLC-Shirley Gray - 4 years

Olivia Tischler - Teleo Coffee - 6 years

Dennis Cooper - The Kaufman Fund - 6 years

Mike Molloy - Molloy Marketing - 6 years

Jon Swendeman - Edward Jones - 9 years

Lorilee Cummings - Lorilee Realty powered by Keller Williams - 12 years

Cynthia LeFort - Pet Supplies Plus - 12 years

Tim Schulze - Pioneer Wealth Management - 14 years

Amy Lepper - Mary Culver Home for Visually Impaired Women - 19 years

Tiffany Bates - Station Plaza - 22 years

Larry West - The Cloisters - 26 years

Michelle Whitener - Concordia House of Kirkwood - 28 years

Cherol Thibaut - Kirkwood Theatre Guild - 29 years

LETTERS FROM OUR DIRECTORS

Kirk Faubel

Board Chair

Hey Chamber members!

Hard to believe it is 4th quarter already! One of our last significant tasks for the year is to select the next class of leaders that will lead the Chamber into the future. We appreciate everyone who took the time to nominate individuals they believe would be strong leaders for the Chamber’s 2027 Board of Directors.

Be on the lookout for an announcement in late October introducing our next class of Board Directors, along with our next Chair-Elect, who will go on to serve as Board Chair in 2028!

Finally, after months of work by Chamber staff and our Bylaws Committee, we are nearing completion of an important update to the Chamber’s bylaws and organizational policies. We have partnered with Chamber member, Weigl Jackson Law Firm, to modernize and streamline our bylaws and establish clear policies and procedures that will provide greater consistency and guidance for the Chamber, its members and staff.

We anticipate presenting the updated bylaws for ratification at our October 20 Board meeting, helping ensure the Chamber has a strong framework in place for the years ahead.

-Kirk

Chris Ley

Executive Director

Hi Members!

Fall is here. The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are changing, and somehow 2027 is already right around the corner.

At The Chamber, we’re not waiting for January to start thinking about the new year.

We have some great things planned for 2027, with more ways for you to connect with fellow Members, build relationships, and put your business in front of our community.

Now is a great time for you to start planning, too.

Take a look at your 2027 goals and ask yourself where The Chamber fits into them. Are there events you want to attend? Sponsorship opportunities that could give your business more exposure? Maybe it’s time to get more involved or simply make a commitment to show up more often. We are here to help you and give you answers.

Whatever your goals look like, don’t wait until January to start chasing them.

Start planning now so when 2027 arrives, you’re ready to hit the ground running and CRUSH those goals.

We’ve got a big year planned at The Chamber That Has It All!

We can’t wait to be part of yours.

Happy Fall,

-Chris

Each month, Ambassadors have the ability to become the "Ambassador of the Month". By attending events and other Ambassador duties, they can win a monthly prize of $10 to one of their favorite Chamber businesses. We even have an annual prize for the Ambassador of the Year!

Stay tuned because we will be holding an Open Casting Call for new Ambassadors soon! Trust us, you want to be on this Team!

CONGRATULATIONS

Alison Hillman, owner of BTP by Alison!

Alison is our September Ambassador of the Month. Thanks for showing up and making the Members and Guests feel at home at our events!

Enjoy the $10 Teleo Coffee gift card for your efforts!

COMMITTEE CONVERSATIONS

Committee Conversations is a monthly feature highlighting the ideas, expertise, and impact of the Chamber’s committees and specialty groups. Each month, a different committee will share insights, updates, or perspectives connected to their mission and work within the Chamber and community.

Why Kirkwood - Des Peres Area Chamber’s LLC Has Become a "Non-Negotiable" on Member Calendars

by your Leaders Learning and Connecting Committee

In a thriving business community, true strength comes from its people. At the Kirkwood – Des Peres Area Chamber of Commerce, our greatest asset has always been our members. Their experience, knowledge and willingness to share are at the heart of Leaders Learning & Connecting (LLC).

Each month, LLC brings professionals together to learn from leaders within our Chamber who share their expertise and real-world experiences. We also welcome outside speakers who bring fresh perspectives, industry trends and new ideas to the room. This combination of local knowledge and outside insight creates a learning environment that challenges our thinking and helps our business community grow.

For many members, LLC has become a monthly priority. It’s an opportunity to sharpen skills, gain new perspectives, exchange ideas with peers and strengthen professional relationships, all in one morning.

Help Us Shape Future Sessions: Call for Speakers!

As we build our upcoming LLC schedule, we’re looking for engaging speakers who can bring relevant, valuable content to our members.

Have a speaker to recommend? Or have expertise you’d like to share yourself? Reach out to the LLC Committee and help us continue making Leaders Learning & Connecting a valuable part of your month.

For More Information

MEMBER PERKS

Be A Bringer Initiative

CONTINUES THROUGH DECEMBER!

Our Be A Bringer Initiative is your chance to introduce colleagues, clients, friends, and fellow business owners to everything the Chamber has to offer while earning rewards along the way.

From September through December, you'll receive points for every registered first-time guest you bring to eligible Chamber events, with prizes throughout the program and a chance to be named The Chamber's Best Bringer in January 2027.

AS OF SEPTEMBER 30th

TOP 3 BE A BRINGER MEMBERS: