folio: .5 – .4708month: 2.067 – .4916

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The Old Tax House is a small business success story in a “big box store” world. Locally owned and operated, The Old Tax House has been serving individuals and businesses in St. Charles County and surrounding areas for 35 years.

“We started as a very small company, we’ve been very fortunate to grow right along with our community.” Gen-eral Manager Lisa Parres said.

Founded in 1977, The Old Tax House began with little more than a calculator, a few pencils and a sincere desire to provide quality tax and bookkeeping services with exceptional customer service.

With persistence, hard work and the best staff in the business, the company grew to become the largest tax office in O’Fallon. Providing value for its service has always been a key part for how it does business. Throughout the past 35 years, it has dedicated itself to continued education, training and advances in technology. To this day, The Old Tax House is still committed to those same ideals and is proud of the company it has become.

“We do our best to provide our

customers with a high level of personal service and make the process as convenient as possible. We can do that because we’ve been very lucky, most of our employees have been with us for a very long time, some for over 30 years.” Parres said.

The Old Tax House consistently ranks as the largest tax office in O’Fallon, as well as a top contender in the surrounding areas.

The Old Tax House customers, their continued dedication and referrals have made it the company it is today. As a way to celebrate 35 years in business, clients will have a chance to win one of three digital cameras, while children can participate in a coloring contest. For more information, contact The Old Tax House.

The Old Tax House8810 Veterans Memorial Parkway

O’Fallon(636) 240-7706

www.oldtaxhouse.com

Shelby Smith, President and founder St. Louis Safety, Inc. is a local, wom-an-owned business and a full-line stocking distributor of personal safety protection items, industrial safety equipment and safety signs. Dedicated staff takes the time and effort to research custom items as well as to fur-nish your everyday safety needs. St. Louis Safety is a distributor for most of the major, well-known manufacturers of safety equipment and stocks the highest quality safety products that meet the needs of its large industrial customers as well as small businesses, contractors and individuals.

At St. Louis Safety, “Safety is our only business.” Staff has a combined 100 years of experience in the safety industry. The advantage of using St. Louis Safety as your safety supplier is its extensive product knowledge, com-petitive pricing and reputation for excellent customer service. St. Louis Safety has the ability to respond quick-ly to customer needs. Contractors who have a job starting or are working on a job and find they need a critical item

can either come in and pick it up at the warehouse or have it delivered to the job site the same day.

St. Louis Safety has been located in Chesterfield Valley since 1989. In July 2011, the business moved into a new, larger location, doubling its warehouse space to help meet the demands of its growing business. St. Louis Safety invites you to come by, meet the staff and view the products in the show-room. There is no minimum order, and walk-ins are always welcome. St. Louis Safety accepts all major credit cards.

Focused, knowledgeable and depend-able, you can count on St. Louis Safety to deliver every time.

St. Louis Safety, Inc.17993 Chesterfield Airport Road

• Chesterfield(636) 537-9111(800) 735-2345

www.stlsafety.com

When you need in-home care, you do have a choice.

“Algonquin Nurses Home Health Care was started with the goal of providing quality in-home care to loved ones,” CEO Steve Tamboli said. “A family-owned, local business, Algonquin Nurses has been serving the Greater St. Louis and surrounding areas since 1987 when our mother, Mary Tamboli, and I started Algonquin Nurses.”

Twenty-five years later, Algonquin Nurses has grown into four divisions – Private Duty, Medicaid, Medicare and Consumer Directed Services – with four Missouri branches.

“Our clients’ happiness is our No. 1 priority,” Private Duty Director Carolyn Hansel said. “Our goal is to keep a loved one in their home as long as possible by offering services that will do just that.”

Algonquin Nurses makes sure your loved one is eating properly and encourages compliance with all medications. The care also provides the freedom to enjoy activities outside the home by providing transportation to church activities, doctor’s appointments, grocery and personal shopping and help

with the routines of maintaining a home. “If you are on Medicaid, we offer services

to make your life a little easier, such as light housekeeping, running errands, assistance in bathing and grooming, companionship, medication reminders, meal prep and so much more,” Mark Tamboli said.

Medicare Administrator Anne Keathley said Algonquin Nurses offers many services that are unique in the in-home care industry, such as Beyond Balance, where a physical therapist assists patients that are susceptible to falls; Health Light, for those who suffer from Diabetic Neuropathy; and Low Vision Rehabilitation Services, for those with glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

If you want to stay in your home, but need some assistance, give Algonquin Nurses a call for a free consultation.

Algonquin Nurses Home Health Care(314) 822-8158

Medicaid: (314) 822-2974Medicare: (314) 822-3736www.algonquinnurses.com

Parkside Retirement Living, estab-lished in 1977, is a full-service, faith-based, non-for-profit continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Locat-ed next to Blanchette Park in Old St. Charles on a beautifully landscaped 13-acre campus, Parkside is near the historic St. Charles Main Street district and SSM St. Joseph Health Center. In fact, Parkside’s Rehabilitation Therapy program is now operated by SSM Homeward Bound.

The mission statement at Parkside remains as it was when it was founded, to provide “an affordable, high-quality living environment to the senior popu-lation. Parkside’s emphasis is to main-tain the highest quality of indepen-dence within all levels of care by offer-ing programs and services, which sup-port the social, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of each individual within a supportive community.”

Because Parkside is a CCRC, it is easy to transition from the Independent Living to the Residential Care and Health Care sections of the community. All these “living” areas are available in a connected complex on the same cam-pus should, for example, a spouse or friend require short-term rehabilitation

or a longer-term stay. Recently, a gen-tleman moved from a St. Charles area stand-alone independent living facility to Parkside, where he could easily visit his spouse on several-times-a-day basis.

Executive Director Tom Walther, a St. Louis area native and veteran health care and senior service executive, is a Saint Louis University graduate with a master’s in Health Care Administra-tion. He has a near-daily presence at Parkside.

“It’s important for people who live here to know that it’s not just a 9-5, Monday through Friday job for any of us,” Walther said. Around-the-clock staffing on campus is an important con-sideration for single individuals or cou-ples contemplating a move to a com-munity such as Parkside.

“I will challenge any other communi-ty to provide better overall quality of care and service than Parkside.”

Parkside Retirement Living2150 W. Randolph St. • St. Charles

(636) 946-4966www.parksideretirement.org

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With more than 146 years of successful operation, Commerce Bank offers financial strength and stability. Attesting to this, Commerce Bancshares, Inc., was ranked No. 7 in Forbes’ (12/13/2011) list of America’s Best Banks for 2011. Commerce is also rated number seven on Bank Director magazine’s 2011 Top 150 Bank Performance Scorecard.

Commerce operates as a super-community bank – large enough to provide a wide range of financial products and services and yet deliver them like a community bank with personal service.

Offering a full range of financial products, including business and personal banking, wealth management, financial planning and investment services, Commerce is able to provide financial solutions to meet the specific needs of each of its customers.

As a customer-driven company, Commerce Bank goes beyond offering financial advice and services to consumers. According to Kevin Bray, senior vice president and Group Manager, St. Charles Region, “Commerce employees share a strong commitment to volunteerism, and

support countless organizations and initiatives in an effort to give back to the community. In fact, the St. Charles County management team serves on the Boards of 14 not-for-profit organizations in the community.”

Commerce Bank is a subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., a $20.6 billion regional bank holding company. For more than 146 years, Commerce Bank has been meeting the financial services needs of individuals and busi-nesses through the Midwest region.

Commerce Bank435 Mid Rivers Mall Drive 6271 Mid Rivers Mall Drive

1101 First Capitol Drive2700 S. St. Peters Parkway101 E. Elm St (O’Fallon)

2913 Hwy. K 1994 Wentzville Parkway

(314) 746-8700www.commercebank.com

Serving the entire bi-state area, Indoor Comfort Team is a locally owned and operated energy conserva-tion company, which helps keep people comfortable and reduces energy con-sumption in their homes. Indoor Com-fort Team ensures that customers are cool in summer and cozy in winter. From heating and A/C to water heaters and whole home energy audits, Indoor Comfort Team has it covered.

“We guarantee 100-percent customer satisfaction,” Adam Rahmanovich, owner, said. “Customers are our top priority. We want to create a longtime client relationship.”

With more than 32 years in the busi-ness, Indoor Comfort Team knows what is best for its clients.

“Our purpose is to provide consumers with superior, professional service, high-quality, innovative products and effective, energy-saving and comfort solutions for their home comfort needs,” Rahmanovich said.

Their team of employees is very important, too. They are industry trained and certified, drug-free, insured and bonded.

“We hire, train, motivate and reward

our employees based on integrity, per-sonal responsibility and commitment,” Rahmanovich said. “Indoor Comfort Team is a good place to work. Every-one wins. If our employees are happy, they’ll make our customers happy too.”

“Extras” include free estimates, man-ufacturers’ promotions, senior and mil-itary discounts, a first-year free mainte-nance program with any new installa-tion and a 24/7 emergency service on all brands. Plus, customers are charged by the job, not by the hour.

The Indoor Comfort Team goal is to exceed expectations. When it comes to a new system installation, it can design and install any type of heating, cooling or indoor air quality system to fit each customer’s home and budget. There are never high-pressure sales – simply comfort and energy-saving solutions, personal attention and high-quality service.

Indoor Comfort Team(636) 787-7555

24/7 available servicewww.indoorcomfortteam.com

At ASD Treatment Clinic, there is hope for any child with a developmental disorder. Since opening its doors about two years ago, ASD has helped numerous families living with a child diagnosed with a behavioral disorder.Physician owned and operated, ASD is

committed to providing each patient with an exceptional level of care and attention. Compassionate, professional ASD staff works together as a team to provide high-quality comprehensive care in the areas of genetics, endocrinology, neurology, psychiatry, nuclear medicine, radiology, psychology and reproductive medicine.“For many parents, finding ASD

Treatment Clinic was the final stop in a long line of doctor visits, heartbreak and broken dreams for their children,” Director Karen Kelsay said. “Here, they found not only help, but also real hope that has positively changed their vision of their child’s future.”Initially started to work with parents

and children dealing with autism, ASD has branched out to cater to many other disorders as well, including ADD/ADHD,

Asperger’s and pervasive developmental disorder. A typical evaluation consists of an initial intake consultation, a follow-up consultation and further consultations as needed. “In our practice, we don’t reach first for the prescription pad and ask questions later,” Kelsay said. “We take the reverse approach, delving deep into your family health history and the child’s developmental history. We also require extensive lab testing to give us a look inside the child for any obvious chemical imbalances or unusual results.”ASD accepts all major insurance carriers,

including Medicaid, which significantly reduces costs for most families.“Each child receives individualized

recommended treatments at ASD,” Kelsay said. “There are no one-size-fits-all protocols here.”

ASD Treatment Clinic4101 Mexico Road, Suite H • St. Peters

(636) 922-4472www.autismtreatmentclinics.comasdtreatmentclinic@gmail.com

Having col lect ive heal thcare experience of more than 40 years, a desire to help people better their lives, acknowledgement of human nature when it comes to “weight issues” and a solid, long-term friendship are just a few of the reasons Jeanne Fields and Jackie O’Rourke opened Scale It Down Weight Loss and Support Center. Working in the healthcare field has afforded the owners the opportunity to see the debilitating effects of carrying around extra weight, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, back pain, high cholesterol and diabetes. “Seventy-three percent of diets fail due to lack of accountability and support, and we wanted to help to decrease that number,” O’Rourke said. “Providing a place for people to come, and a voice and an ear to keep dieters on track, is the most awesome experience –truly a gift that our clients share with us on their weight loss journey.” All the staff members at Scale It Down have successfully completed the diet. Their passion to share their knowledge and experience is obvious.

Their friendly and compassionate demeanor fills the air of the warm, almost spa-like, setting. They pride themselves on their superior product, which is pharmaceutical/medical grade, and their commitment to quality is guaranteed. They refuse to sell a product that does not meet their high standards. “It’s just not worth it, A good reputation is easier kept than recovered,” Jackie said. “Integrity, excellent customer service and a product to match are everything. People have a choice when it comes to purchasing their products, and we respect that they have chosen to come to us.”

Scale It Down850 Bryan Road • O’Fallon

(636) 240-369610 a.m. to 7p.m., Mon. - Fri.,

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sat. or by appointment

www.scaleitdownhcg.comscaleitdownhcg@me.com

Real Results. Real Fast!

Jeanne Fields and Jackie O’Rourke

folio: .5 – .4708month: 2.067 – .4916

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If a loved one needs assistance with some daily activities to remain independent in his or her home, place your trust in Martha’s Hands.

Martha’s Hands Home Health is on a mission to serve with compassion. Martha’s Hands provides quality, compassionate, private duty home health care.

Assistance that Martha’s Hands can provide includes bathing, grooming, dressing, meal preparation/cleanup, medication setup and reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, errand running, mental stimulation, companionship and spiritual support.

Eileen and John Hedrick founded Martha’s Hands more than 30 years ago. While a nursing student, Eileen was taught compassionate care by the Sisters of Mercy emphasizing total wellness. Because she wanted to maintain those high standards, Eileen founded Martha’s Hands.

Since its founding in 1997, Martha’s Hands has become one of the most

respected private duty agencies in the area. With it’s unique care model, Martha’s Hands has provided over two million hours of service.

Martha’s Hands continues to strive for high standards and is actively involved with the National Private Duty Association and the Missouri Alliance for Home Care.

Martha’s Hands also supports the local community through volunteering and supporting the Alzheimer’s Association, Memory Care Home Solutions and the Greater St. Charles Chamber of Commerce.

So if you ever need guidance through the maze of elder care issues, place your trust in Martha’s Hands.

Martha’s Hands Home Health5650 Mexico Road,

Suite 12 St. Peters

(636) 447-9393www.marthashands.com

After 21 years, business owners Jerry and Linda Bosch are still going strong. Their Daughter-in-law, Patti Ortbals, is back working with them again and is now part owner of this growing Family Owned Business.

Cruises and Vacations are their specialty. They began in 1991 as Just Cruises and over the past 21 years have expanded to Land Vacations that include All - Inclusive, and other packaged trips to Europe, Hawaii, Australia, South America, Ireland, and beyond. As they say, “Land or Sea? What shall it be?” With over 121 years of experience under one roof, they know their business.

As an award winning agency, they are always developing ways to make it easier to purchase your vacation. They are redeveloping their interactive web-site to offer you a closer look at the products they sell, as well as give you direct access to many of the most popular travel suppliers used in today’s travel world. A monthly newsletter continues to be a tradition giving you updates of the latest and greatest

vacation offers as well as great travel advice.

Linda and Jerry will once again be escorting their Annual 14-Day Alaska Land and Cruise Tour. In fact, this will be their 19th annual tour! If you’re planning Alaska, be sure to join the experts to experience the best Alaska has to offer. For more information be sure to give them a call. They are open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. They take appointments in the evenings and on Saturdays. Have a group of friends who want to travel together? Ask about their “Cruise Parties”. Whether you are planning a short get away or a long vacation, the experts at Just Cruises can help you find the vacation that fits your needs.

Just Cruises521 Salt Lick Road • St. Peters

(636) 970-258110 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; Evenings & Sat. by appt. only

www.cruisenut.com

Specializing in Cruise and Land Vacations

Wind blasting through a broken window can seem like a catastrophe during winter! Even old foggy double pane glass has lost its energy efficiency and can leave you feeling chilly. Nancy Hannold and the team at Inst-I-Glass of St. Louis can turn these major problems into minor inconveniences!

Conventional glass shops need a couple of weeks to replace glass, but Nancy’s team specializes in prompt service and convenient scheduling, bringing her customers top quality at an excellent value. Most jobs are completed in a single service call!

Inst-I-Glass specializes in restoring the energy efficiency and appearance of existing windows and doors. “We enjoy helping our customers avoid the expense and hassle of buying new windows for the entire house,” says Nancy, “New insulated glass conserves energy, so once a window has been properly restored, it can have many

years of useful life remaining. Restoration saves time and money, and reduced landfill burden.”

Most estimates are given by phone, another time-saver. A uniformed technician is dispatched to the customer’s location in a mobile manufacturing facility. Because the factory comes to the customer’s location, Nancy’s team is able to complete many jobs in as little as one hour! Customers avoid production delays, costly board-ups, and time off work for multiple appointments. For free estimates or fast service, call Inst-I-Glass!

Inst-I-Glass of St. Louis For Service in St. Louis & Metro East:

(636) 279-5315 www.instiglass.com

Nancy Hannold

Edelman Computer Services serves home users and small businesses in St. Peters and the surrounding area. The company was begun initially as a part-time home-based business in 1996.

Owner Doug Edelman had noted a lack of computer services targeted to the home user and small business mar-kets. He started ECS to help fill that niche. He bills himself as the “Neigh-borhood Computer Geek in your Neighborhood.”

ECS provides such services as trouble shooting and repair, wired and wireless networking, security sweep/cleaning, upgrades and performance optimization and what he jokingly refers to as gen eral “ghostbusting,” referring to when a customer’s machine behaves as though it were “haunted.”

Edelman Computer Services pro-vides in-home and on-site service as well as pickup and delivery. Most prob-lems can be fixed in a single visit. The recent rash of worms, viruses, trojans and other se curity threats and perfor-mance robbers has kept them busy.

“If you’re experiencing slow perfor-mance, seeing pop-ups or have new icons on your desktop you didn’t

install… you probably are infected and should have a check-up! There are extremely nasty new rootkits circulat-ing currently, which routine security programs like McAfee, Norton, AVG, MS Security Essentials etc will notpre-vent and can’t clean. If you have “Whitesmoke Translator” on your desktop, for example, you are infected with an aleureon type rootkit!” Mr. Edelman says. “Unlike others, we can clean this infection without reformat-ting your drive.”

Mr. Edelman is a professional IT Spe cialist by trade. He holds multiple professional certifications and has taught PC Main tenance & Repair and Network Funda mentals at St. Charles Community Col lege.

Whether a system needs tweaking, protecting, cleaning or resurrecting, Edelman Computer Services has the ex pertise and experience you need.

Edelman Computer Services(636) 294-8383

www.pc-fixer-stl.com

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At Great Southern Bank, customer relationships are top priority. Providing a comprehensive line of financial prod-ucts, Great Southern is an excellent partner to help with your financial needs or to grow your small business. In addition to the Cottleville and Lake Saint Louis locations, you will find four other full-service banking centers in the St. Louis Metro area, with a brand new branch slated to open Feb. 20, in the O’Fallon area.

“Building winning relationships with our customers is our mission,” said Banking Center Manager Regina Dowling, who will manage the newest location. “You can always count on our experienced team to understand what really matters to you.”

Great Southern operates 104 retail banking centers in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. Conve-nient access to banking services is par-amount to customers, and Great South-ern understands that. Same-day credit on deposits made by closing time on Monday through Friday and 24-hour access to your money are made possi-

ble by offering extended banking hours and Mobile, Internet and Telephone Banking services.

Understanding what really matters to its customers is a major focus for Great Southern Bank, which partners with its customers to determine what matters most to them. This allows Great South-ern to develop a much more effective relationship with its customers.

“We are proud to be a part of this community,” Dowling said. “We are always looking for ways to utilize our exceptional service to help our com-munity grow as well.”

Stop in today to learn what Great Southern has in store for you or your business.

Great Southern Bank4700 Mid Rivers Mall Drive • St. Peters

(636) 928-22653031 Lake St. Louis Blvd. • Lake Saint Louis

(636) 561-2265100 Christina Marie Drive • O’Fallon

www.greatsouthernbank.com

Barathaven Alzheimer’s Special Care Center offers a new option for those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia and need 24-hour supervision.

Operated by JEA Senior Living, the company has a unique philosophy, called “Meaningful Moments.” This philosophy of care is focused on pro-viding the necessary support. It is first important to understand dementia and the ever-changing impact it has on each resident’s ability to understand their world. It also is important to know each resident’s unique life story and to create moments that are meaningful to them personally. Programming is designed to add meaning and value to resident’s lives while around-the-clock care is given.

Felieta Boaz, Barahaven administra-tor, has more than 15 years of experi-ence in the industry.

“Our facility is designed to give a warm, homelike and safe environment to residents,” Boaz said.

Barathaven’s innovative design has set the standard among Alzheimer’s care centers. Biography Boards hang

on the wall outside each resident’s room and reflect the meaningful moments in their life stories while offering the staff and visitors a connec-tion to their history.

Rooms are furnished with linens, a full-size bed, nightstand and lamp. Housekeeping and laundry service are available at no extra charge. Enclosed courtyard and outside walking areas are beautifully landscaped.

Three nutritious meals and snacks are served throughout the day and special diets are catered to as needed. A salon is available to provide haircuts, sham-poos and sets, perms, color and manicures.

“We strive to be the leader in provid-ing quality personal service while hon-oring the experience of aging,” Boaz said.

Baratheaven Alzheimer’s Special Care Center

1030 Barathaven Blvd. • St. Peters(636) 329-9160

www.jeaseniorliving.com

Specializing in basement finishing, Richbuilt Basements has been serving homeowners in the St. Charles area and surrounding communities since its establishment in 1989. Before launch-ing the business, Rich Kempa, owner and founder of Richbuilt Basements, worked for more than 15 years as a designer and draftsman at consulting engineering firms. Today, Kempa oper-ates his business from a home-based office.

Richbuilt Basements specializes in complete basement remodeling. Origi-nally, Kempa handled projects from start to finish by himself, but over the years, his business has grown substantially.

“Now, with multiple crews and the same employees for more than 10 years, we work as a team to complete projects in a timely manner,” Kempa said. “Our goal is simple: to achieve customer satisfaction.”

To reach that goal, Kempa said, he

and his team make sure to keep the lines of communication open at all times, provide customers with straight-forward answers to all of their ques-tions, show respect for each customer’s home and property, emphasize cleanli-ness and deliver worry-free completion of every project.

To date, Richbuilt Basements has completed more than 160 basements.

“We know how to get the job done right the first time in a timely manor and at the right price,” Kempa said. “We take care of everything – from framing to electrical, from plumbing to ductwork, from floor to ceiling, from theaters to family rooms, from painting to pantries and everything in between.”

Richbuilt BasementsO’Fallon

(636) 978-3479 or (314) 713-1388

Eight and a half years ago, Sarah Cor-rigan and her mother, Mary Kay, felt there was a real demand in the commu-nity for a unique decor, gift and floral boutique. They soon joined forces to start The White Hare, offering distinct home accessories, gifts and an exten-sive, top-notch floral selection.

The store’s extremely popular in-home accessorizing service caters to the personal desires of the client to help with a new space or simply add finish-ing touches to an existing one.

“We come to your home, talk to you about what areas you would like to work on and then we take pictures and measurements,” Sarah Corrigan said. “We then schedule another day when we return with a selection of items spe-cifically for your space. It’s that easy.”

In addition, the store carries the best quality floral and merchandise avail-able while maintaining a good price for its loyal and dedicated customers. Cus-tom floral design is another popular service that keeps customers coming

back. Seasonal and everyday decorat-ing classes are offered in store and always sell out immediately.

“We emphasize customer service and getting our clients exactly what they want and need,” Corrigan said. “We are always changing and striving to have the most creative displays and newest product out there. It’s not uncommon for a customer to come to the store three times in a month, and it looks dif-ferent each time.”

The White Hare moved to a larger location one year ago that nearly dou-bled its space to 7300 square feet, enabling the store to carry more vari-ety, larger stock and offer more classes.

“We strive to have every client leave the store with a positive experience,” Corrigan said.

The White Hare6121 Mid Rivers Mall Drive • St.

Peters(636) 441-1111

www.thewhitehare.com

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Vela HR Consulting was created to meet the direct needs of the businesses in the area.

“Many organizations have found themselves without adequate HR resources in recent years. We help fill those gaps and provide services to keep your business moving forward,” said Principal Vicki Amsinger, who is a senior professional in human resource management (SPHR) with more than 20 years of experience in employee communications, recruitment, training, performance management, policy development and employee relations.

Providing cost-effective, integrated services to help businesses effectively manage HR responsibilities, risks and issues, Vela HR Consulting supplies knowledge, experience and expertise in organizational development and structure, policy development and review, HR department audits, HR issues and leadership training, which includes interviewing requirements/skills, FMLA administration, leadership communication, performance feedback and reviews, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions and the resignation/

termination process.Vela HR Consulting also can assist

clients with succession planning and workforce development, as well as coaching/counseling services for a leadership team.

“We meet individually with each company’s leadership team and collaborate with them to establish and prioritize their HR objectives,” Amsinger said. “Our philosophy is that business leaders drive the decisions, and we offer the necessary HR support to help them grow.”

Professional, knowledgeable and experienced, Vela HR Consulting can assist businesses in identifying and implementing HR business practices that align with specific goals and missions.

“We are aware that HR is just one part of a successful business, but we’re here to help,” Amsinger said.

Vela HR Consulting, Inc.(314) 740-2211

www.velaHRconsulting.com

Vela hr Consulting

Vicki AmsingerWhen President/Owner Jeff Minnis is

not programming, he is running Jeff Computers, the leading source for all computer solutions.

“Since we are locally owned and operated, we offer faster and better quality service,” Minnis said. “We can fix almost any computer problem, and we also custom build desktop and lap-top computers.”

Jeff Computers is a worldwide solu-tion for information technology needs, offering laptop and computer repair, both new and refurbished desk and lap-tops, Clear super fast 4G wireless Inter-net, Cricket Android phones and Crick-et basic unlimited phones. Jeff Com-puters also recently released an easy backup program to help users keep their data safe.

Jeff Computers’ innovative services also include the sale and installation of the brand new ultimate connection – Clear Internet – the first network built for today’s on-the-move lifestyle. It offers speeds four times faster than 3G and is available in virtually every cor-ner of St. Louis. Clear is designed with the Internet in mind and goes places

Wi-Fi cannot. It delivers an Internet connection anywhere – at home or on the road.

Minnis also is the creator of the popu-lar StudyX, the easy and fun software program used by educators and stu-dents alike to help students focus and study for tests.

Minnis’ computer knowledge and personalized computer services allows Jeff Computers to fix any problem with a laptop or desktop as well as acquire any new parts.

“We are one of the few companies that can solve all of our customers’ needs, and our computer website ser-vice offers quick repairs online,” Min-nis said.

Jeff Computers’ trained and experi-enced technicians guarantee both qual-ity and reliability for the highest quali-ty of service around.

Jeff Computers14366 Manchester Road • Manchester

(636) 256-7901www.jeffcomputers.com

Clearing fogged insulated glass is now easier than ever with the innova-tive Crystal Clear process. For a frac-tion of the price of new windows, Clear Window Technology can quickly remove trapped moisture from failed insulated glass and restore clarity and lost insulating value. The technique has been in use in Canada since 1989, and Clear Window Technology brought it to the U.S. in 2005.

Certified technicians use precision tools to clean the interior of the glass and introduce valves to enable the win-dow to expel moisture. The valve allows vaporized moisture to vent to the outside and keeps additional mois-ture from accumulating. As a result, the window looks great and supports the natural cycle of evaporation.

“We use only environmentally friendly chemicals which are harmless to people, pets and plants. As a result, some windows have too much damage for the process to work,” said Dennis

McHugh, who co-owns Clear Window with Susan McHugh. “In those cases, we can replace the damaged glass with a superior insulating glass that uses ‘warm edge’ technology, leaving the existing frame in place. The seal is so good that it carries a 20-year warranty against failure. We’ve replaced over 80,000 pieces of glass with this type of seal and can count the failures on one hand.”

Complete window and door and patio door replacement are available through their Air Shield division, a Bet-ter Business Bureau Accredited busi-ness that has been supplying quality replacement products, including Ander-sen, since 1983.

Free evaluations are provided, and all products are backed with a 20-year warranty.

Clear Window Technology(314) 966-2666

www.clearwindowtech.com

Tara S. Dickherber, LPC, has worked in the field of mental health for more than 15 years in many capacities – from in-patient psych to private prac-tice. Her passion lies in her private practice, and a little more than a year ago, she moved her practice to St. Charles. Given all her experience, Dickherber’s specialty is treating survi-vors of sexual violence and traumatic events.

Dickherber was the first to be certi-fied in Rapid Resolution Therapy® in St. Charles or St. Louis County, which has taken her from being a counselor to becoming a transformative healer. She also has assisted two other therapists in getting certified in RRT and joined the Institute for Survivors of Sexual Vio-lence® as the executive director. “RRT is a powerful but gentle way to get the mind to make shifts quickly because we are working with the part of the mind that causes emotional responses,” Dickherber said. “Other therapy methods just work at the level

of the logical mind. But, I am sure you have realized that the part of the mind that causes emotions does not respond to logic. So, with RRT we are simply communicating in a way that the emo-tional part of the mind learns and understands things. That part of your mind tends to respond better to imag-ery, sensory experiences and certain ways of using language. I show my cli-ents how to influence that part of their mind to get more responses they want, and in doing so, it clears the negative effect of any past event that’s been get-ting in the way of them being at peace.”

Dickherber offers free 10-minute phone consultations

Trauma Recovery of St. Charles Tara S. Dickherber, LPC

Certified in Rapid Resolution Therapy® 1360 S. 5th St., Suite 394 • St. Charles

(573) 754-0348www.mylifecoachtara.com

Trauma Recoveryof St. Charles

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At MIND, the Midwest Institute for Neurological Development, there are no textbook answers for how to treat a child.

“MIND does not use canned protocols for diagnoses, such as ADHD,” Program Director Meghan Finnegan said. “Everything we do is completely tailored to the individual child based on his or her needs.”

MIND provides brain-based therapy and neuro-academic therapy to children with a variety of neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADD/ADHD, autism, Asperger’s, Tourette’s, motor tic issues, sensory integration issues, TBI, learning disabilities, etc.

The average program for a child lasts 12-16 weeks, three times a week. No medication is utilized, and the progress a child makes has a permanent impact.

“What we’re really looking for is the root of the issue from a physiological standpoint,” Finnegan said. “Our concern is what’s going on inside the child’s brain and how the areas of the brain are communicating with one another. Once we pinpoint the trouble area, we can tackle the

issues with brain-based therapy.”MIND is the Midwest’s first and only

brain-based treatment and educational center dedicated to evaluating and managing neurological disorders.

“For a lot of kids, this is combining the need between neurological and academic,” Finnegan said. “We have certified teachers and special education instructors who work with children, not from a tutoring standpoint, but teaching them skills using what we know about these kids neurologically. At the end of the day, what we want is to really instill confidence in kids.”

Life changing, unique and personalized, MIND’s biggest goal is to let each child reach his or her potential to be able to succeed.

MIND – Midwest Institute for Neurological Development

144 Chesterfield Commons East Road Chesterfield

(636) 537-980011 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mon. – Fri.;

9 a.m. to noon on Sat.www.mi4nd.com

At the Wingate by Wyndham, located in Weldon Spring, welcoming associates provide guests with first-class accommodations and outstanding customer service. The Wingate is a 100-room hotel under new ownership and management and offers a complete amenity package, such as a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, indoor and outdoor pool with whirlpool, fitness center, highspeed wireless Internet, business center and sundry shop – perfect to suit the business person or families on the go. Spacious rooms include a relaxing atmosphere and a well-lit work area. “Guest satisfaction is our top priority,” Director of Operations Jenna McGraw said. “We pride ourselves on our well-trained team whose main goal is to make the Wingate a home away from home.”

The Wingate is one of eight hotels owned and/or operated by Hotel Ventures Management Company of Illinois, Inc., which has additional locations in Central Illinois and Southern Indiana.

The hotel is located in close proximity

to a wide variety of restaurants and is within walking distance to the Missouri Research Park companies, Missouri Bluffs Golf Course and Katy Trail. It also is a short drive from Ameristar Casino, local wineries and Historic St. Charles. For added convenience, Wingate offers a complimentary 14-passenger shuttle van to any destination within a five-mile radius. The hotel also offers two meeting rooms, one of which is an executive style boardroom that seats up to 12 people. In addition, Wingate has a conference style room, which can accommodate training seminars, banquets and catered events for up to 80 people.

The Wingate by Wyndham strives to provide its guests with clean, comfortable accommodations at reasonable rates, making it the ideal place for meeting guests’ needs and exceeding their expectations.

Wingate by Wyndham32 Research Park Circle

Weldon Spring(636)329-8503

www.hotelventuresmanagement.com

Enhancing the bond between your pet and family

Positive Paws Pet Training believes that strengthening the communication between your dog and family is essen-tial in creating a healthy bond and achieving acceptable behaviors. Kim Gracner, owner of Positive Paws Pet Training, has educated owners and changed behaviors of over 2,000 dogs. Positive Paws Pet Training opened in 2006, and offers in-home customized training programs tailored to achieve your goals and your dog’s needs.

Kim believes that training in the dog’s environment is most successful for behavioral change. “Problematic behaviors typically occur within the home environment. Since dogs need leadership and proper structure, the family plays an important role in the training process”, Kim says. It is essential for your dog to understand your expectations for successful training.

The programs at Positive Paws Pet Training are structured to teach all ages and breeds. Whether you’re just acquiring a new puppy, attempting to manage your strong-willed adolescent, or striving to maximize your adult dog’s potential, Positive Paws Pet

Training can help. In addition to basic cues, everyday issues such as house training, jumping, digging, nipping, and excessive barking are addressed. Programs are offered for more chal-lenging issues such as aggression, fear and anxiety.

The method of training is as impor-tant as the cues which are taught. Posi-tive Paws Pet Training practices posi-tive techniques. Kim advocates that dogs learn more readily from reward-ing methods.

Kim is a Certified Canine Behavior Counselor, Certified Pet Dog Trainer, member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors, and Bet-ter Business Bureau.

Kim has two four-legged family members: Brandie, a Chocolate Labra-dor Retriever, and Baxter, a Golden Retriever.

Positive Paws Pet Training(636) 352-3104

www.positivepawstraining.com

Painful waxing is a thing of the past – along with the high expenses of tradi-tional waxing services.

Known for its high-end, yet reason-ably priced, full-body waxing services, European Wax Center is a second-gen-eration, family-owned salon without the “ouch factor,” for which traditional waxing methods are known.

“My wife always complained about how painful waxing was, and she hated the irritation afterward,” said owner Dennis Lowery, who co-owns the salon with Brad Frame. “So when we discov-ered the European Wax Center’s com-fort wax, bringing it to the St. Louis area was a no-brainer.”

The key is a four-step process that cleanses, protects, waxes and rejuve-nates the skin. The wax, specially for-mulated in Paris exclusively for Euro-pean Wax Center, is alcohol-free, has a low melting point and is applied by licensed estheticians at warm bath water temperature. The wax then sets as one continuous elastic layer, adher-ing only to the hair follicle, not the skin. Because of its strength and elas-

ticity, the hard wax can be removed without adhesive strips, which cause discomfort and redness.

Best of all, clients are invited to try it out for free.

“Women receive a complimentary bikini line, eyebrow or underarm ser-vice on their first time in,” Lowery said, “while men are treated to no-cost eyebrow, ear or nose hair removal.”

The relaxing, luxurious space, which offers a mini retreat, cannot be beat.

European Wax Center has become a nationally recognized brand, with 300 locations across the country and a recent international expansion into Canada. Today, guests recognize Euro-pean Wax Center as an industry leader in providing guests the ultimate waxing experience.

European Wax Center1640 Clarkson Road • Chesterfield

(636) 536-0777www.waxcenter.com

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Mike and Kathie Faszold, owners of Faszold Heating & Cooling, make it their mission to ensure that each cli-ent’s home is safe and comfortable.

The locally owned and family-owned Faszold’s specializes in improving the efficiency of your whole home’s ener-gy usage. Highly qualified Comfort Specialists are readily available to help.

Faszold also provides state-of-the-art energy audits as Show-Me Green Ener-gy, to provide clients with the informa-tion they need to improve their home’s performance related to energy con-sumption and associated costs. Home Energy Audits identify ways a home-owner can dramatically reduce energy costs while creating a more comfort-able and healthier atmosphere.

“A Home Energy Audit will identify problems directly related to energy loss, such as inadequate or missing insulation, air infiltration, inefficient heating and cooling systems, windows or solar gain,” Faszold said. “Other areas, such as improper ventilation will

be identified, which is a safety and health issue because of the potential for mold growth and moisture damage to building materials.”

Michael Faszold II is the second gen-eration of Comfort Specialists in the family and is BPI Certified. Very few technicians in the area are qualified to perform these comprehensive assess-ments of a home’s energy efficiency. Faszold prides itself on excellent cus-tomer service and building a long-term relationship with its customers.

“You’ll find that at Faszold, your sat-isfaction is our No. 1 concern, and we’ll strive to achieve that on each and every visit; not because it’s our job, but because it’s your home,” Faszold said. “Stop in or call today to schedule a ser-vice call or to request a free estimate.”

Faszold Heating & Cooling103 N. Service Road • St. Charles

(636) 397-1237www.faszold.com

www.ShowMeGreenEnergy.com

Heating & CoolingSince 1980

Founded in 1999, Morning Star Church seeks to meet people right where they are and help them take their next steps on their spiritual journey. Morning Star provides a wide variety of opportunities for spiritual and emotional growth, from support groups to classes, all of which are available to members as well as to the community. Under the leadership of Lead Pastor Mike Schreiner, Morning Star has grown from its initial attendance of 200 people to over 4,029 at 2011 Easter services.

Morning Star recently announced that next month, in February 2012, they are launching “40 Days in the Word,” a church-wide campaign designed to inform and inspire individuals to not just be “hearers” of the Word, but also “doers” of the Word.

Through weekend services, small group studies, and regular reading assignments from the companion book to this campaign, the entire Morning Star Church family will focus on the same spiritual themes for six-weeks.

Written by the staff of Rick Warren’s

Saddleback Church in California, “40 Days in the Word” was designed for church, college, youth and other small groups. The 40 Days in the Word Study Guide is a 200 page, resource that, when combined with the Small Group DVD, will take participants through six easy to learn methods of Loving, Learning, and Living the Word.

“’40 Days in the Word’ is not your typical Bible study, but rather a multi-media resource designed to compel people into the Word,” states Michael Schreiner, lead pastor of Morning Star Church.

To find out more information on registering for Morning Star Church’s local “40 Days in the Word” campaign, visit www.mscwired.org.

Morning Star Church1600 Feise Road, Dardenne Prairie

636.561.5680www.mscwired.org

Tec Air Inc. Heating and Air Condi-tioning President and CEO Charles Haas have more than 40 years of expe-rience in his field.

“I had worked with another company until starting my own business in 1983,” said Haas, who holds a degree in mechanical engineering “I wanted to provide quality heating and cooling services for the homeowner and com-mercial customers. Our business is to service, sell and install the best heating and cooling, air filtration, purification and humidification.”

That dedication has earned Tec Air a special affiliation with Climate Master CEO Thermal.

“We sell Trane heating and cooling equipment, making us a preferred pro-vider in all of St. Charles and the sur-rounding area, Haas said.

The family-owned/operated, Tec Air Inc., services all brands in the St Charles & St Louis area and sells and installs systems at every efficiency level. The company’s technicians are Union-Certified, NATE-Certified.

The highly trained and qualified tech-nicians make them Tec Air’s greatest assets,” according to Haas.

“We employ the highest qualified per-sonnel in the area to ensure your busi-ness and family’s confidence that the job will be done right,” Haas said. “We believe our technicians do a better job than anyone in the industry”

Tec Air’s, goal is to acquire custom-ers and keep them for life. The compa-ny never tries to sell customers more than they need, but makes sure that they have what they do need and that it is operating efficiently. Specializing in indoor air quality and comfort, new construction, add-on and replacements, room additions, humidifier installation, electronic air cleaners, service and maintenance.

Tec Air Inc. Heating and Air Conditioning

License # M2741A233 N. Callahan Road • Wentzville

(636) 332-944424 hours a day, seven days a week

www.tec-airinc.com

Ceasar and Cherry Villegas enjoyed Smoothie King smoothies so much that they purchased a franchise in Cottleville.

“I have been a big fan of Smoothie King smoothies since 2000,” Cherry said. “I love the taste, and I don’t feel guilty drinking them.”

Smoothie King is not your average juice bar.

“It is considered a juice bar, but Smoothie King is the premier smoothie bar and nutritional lifestyle center in the industry,” Cherry said. “Smoothie King offers guests the original, nutritional real fruit smoothie and healthy retail products, including sports nutrition products, energy bars, healthy snacks, vitamin supplements, herbs and minerals. The combination helps achieve health and fitness goals.”

A new favorite smoothie is the Lean1 smoothie, which burns body fat up to 68 percent faster. The high-protein smoothie is known for fighting hunger cravings as well as helping to tone and define muscles. With 27 vitamins and minerals, Lean1 smoothies also aid in

speeding recovery from workouts and are available in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

A healthy alternative to fast food, a Smoothie King smoothie is served in a cup, so it is easy to consume on the go. Smoothies are the perfect meal alternative for those wanting to trim down, build muscle, get an energy boost or indulge in a healthy snack. Flavor options are limitless, and each smoothie is made fresh to order by the friendly staff.

Ceasar and Cherry accept catering and volume orders at a discounted price and offer fundraising for schools, sports teams and social organizations.

“Taste does not have to suffer to live a healthier lifestyle,” Cherry said.

Smoothie King4765 Highway N • CottlevilleCorner Mid Rivers Mall Dr.

(636) 939-KING (5464)7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mon.-Fri.;

8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sat.;10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sun.www.smoothieking.com