People you should know

Posted:Oct. 4th, 2010 | In: News, Tranquility

One of our own Monica Pitts was recently featured in the Columbia Business Times publication as a person you should know. We’re so proud of her and want to share the article with all of you!

Mike Pitts

Project Planner, Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling Inc.

Monica Pitts

Co-owner and Chief Creative Director, MayeCreate Design

AGE: Mike: 31; Monica: 30

YEARS LIVED IN MID-MISSOURI: Mike: 12; Monica: 23

ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Mike: Springfield, Mo.; Monica: Moved down the grain belt, starting in Kenmare, N.D., stopped by Ames, Iowa, and made it to Columbia in 1987.

EDUCATION: Mike: Springfield Central High Class of ’97; graduated in 2002 from MU with a B.A. from the business school, emphasis in real estate and finance. Monica: Rock Bridge High Class of ’98, graduated in 2003 from MU with a B.S. in agriculture.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Mike: I am a custom home and remodeling consultant and sales representative.  I help families plan their custom homes and improve existing homes through remodeling. Monica: I think of Mike and myself as creative consultants. Mike’s creative consulting just happens to be a bit more concrete. I guide small to medium-sized businesses through the process of designing websites and marketing materials. Some days I oversee the creative process, and on others I actually design.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Mike: I’m a member of the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, City of Columbia Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, Metro Rotary and Ronald McDonald House Maintenance Committee. I also am a member of Core 20 and volunteer for a variety of service projects with local nonprofits. Last year we helped the Boys and Girls Club, the Food Bank, Family Counseling Center and the PET project, to name a few. Monica: Does it count that I pick up after my dogs when we’re on walks? I am a Chamber of Commerce and Columbia WIN member. MayeCreate donates design services to various nonprofit organizations. I tag along as Mike’s chaperone to his numerous community functions.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Monica: I’ve always been an artsy fartsy, entrepreneurial sort. I guess those two things don’t usually go together. Out of college, I took an internship designing a website, then my dad offered me a job with the family business, Tranquility Internet Services, to develop our Web design department. I later look a job for a local marketing company then ventured off to start MayeCreate Design in 2005. I’m still trucking along as a small-business owner and create fun jewelry out of fabric, beads and clay to peddle at local craft shows. Mike: I spent several years as a residential loan officer in Columbia after graduating. The past four, I was co-owner of Ultra Mortgage Group. Around the time Monica and I got married, I had a desire to change jobs and had the opportunity to work for Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling. This past August was two years, and I’ve enjoyed every day.

A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE AND WHY: Mike: I think I have to list three: Richard King of The Blue Note; my boss, Dan Kliethermes; and my wife, Monica. Collectively they share passion for what they do and have created amazing businesses that have helped and inspired people in our community. Richard and Dan have been a great source of knowledge when I was a business owner. Obviously I’m a big fan of Monica; I don’t know where to start! Monica: I have to jump on the Richard King bandwagon and add Cathy Atkins of Savant Business Solutions to the list. These two business owners have helped guide me through the circus of being a small-business owner. When I worked for Richard though college, he taught me how to be a good employee. I’m not saying I loved it when he yelled at me for transferring him a bad phone call, but I learned so much from watching him run his business. Cathy asks me the hardest questions; her whole job is to ask people hard questions, and she makes people think about their business and how to make it better. She has high expectations for her students, and she has those same high expectations for herself.

Read the full article here