September 2026 News

IN THIS UPDATE

What Being the “New Guy” Again Taught Me About Onboarding
Back-to-School Resources!
News You Can Use
Cool Events
Opportunities Await

What Being the “New Guy” Again Taught Me About Onboarding

What Being the “New Guy” Again Taught Me About Onboarding
By: Ryan Hobart

After nearly a decade of not being the “new guy,” joining Mazur & Co. was a great reminder that even with 20 years of professional experience, onboarding is about much more than just learning the systems — it’s about diving into company culture, institutional knowledge, and building a healthy team dynamic.

In this month’s blog post, I share insights from my recent onboarding experience, how a mix of hands-on client work and intentional orientation helped me get up to speed in a hybrid setting, and what organizations can do to make transitions smoother and more effective.

For an in-depth perspective on onboarding with a new employer, read the full blog post here.

Ryan Hobart

Back to School Resources!

As the new school year gets underway, we’re highlighting a few resources from amazing organizations that can support students, families, and educators.

The DeBruce Foundation ’s Agilities resources give students tools to explore their strengths and connect them to future careers. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri ’s Back-to-School Guide offers helpful information for families and educators on topics including enrollment, discipline, special education, and bullying. For students thinking about college, Missouri College & Career Attainment Network’s My Scholarship Central connects Missouri students and families with scholarships and other financial aid resources. And St. Louis Education Fund’s Home Libraries initiative and Books and BBQ events are helping keep students engaged with reading beyond the classroom–read more here!

Whether you’re an educator, parent, guardian, or simply someone who wants to support kids, these are resources worth sharing as students head back to school.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Arts, Entertainment, & Culture

Tech & Science

Agriculture, Environment, Energy, & Climate

Education, Workforce, & Economic Development

Entrepreneurship

Health & Wellbeing

Missouri Medicaid Changes Raise Fears of More Coverage Losses

Sports

Leadership

Titan Protection Named One of America’s Top 25 Security Firms for Second Year in a Row
The Top Women Leaders of Missouri for 2026 – Women We Admire
Kristy Carter, Amy Cox, Andrew Grabau, Jennifer Ingraham, Geoff Jolley, Caleb Jones, Lucia G. Lohmann, Lindsay Young Lopez, Rachel Munday, Stephanie Regagnon and Tina Shannon, among Ingram Magazine’s 50 Missourians You Should Know for 2026
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri Celebrates ‘For The Common Good Awards’
Kirksville Resident Carolyn Chrisman Selected for United WE’s Rural Research Fellowship

Civic Life, Democracy & Justice

Potpourri

COOL EVENTS

9/19/26 — CCUA’s 17th Annual Harvest Hootenanny! (Columbia, MO)
Join CCUA for its 17th Annual Harvest Hootenanny at Columbia’s Agriculture Park! Admission to the Hootenanny is free, with live music, farm animals, kids’ activities, and a farm-wide scavenger hunt. Tickets can be purchased for a delicious meal prepared by Columbia Area Career Center students, carnival games, raffle entries, and local beer, wine, and cider. All proceeds support CCUA’s programming. Learn more.

9/22/26 — Documentary Screening – ”The Trail State” (St. Louis, MO)
Be among the first to watch The Trail State, a documentary about the power of trails to transform communities, economies, and lives. At its heart is Missouri’s 237-mile Katy Trail—once an abandoned rail line, now a thriving connection between people, places, and possibility. Its success has inspired a new generation of trails, from the grassroots-driven Rock Island Trail in Kansas City to St. Louis Brickline Greenway. Learn more.

9/19 – 9/26/26 — DC Walking Town (Washington, DC)
DC Walking Town is an annual event featuring more than 70 free guided walking and biking tours across all eight wards of Washington, DC. Explore the city’s history, culture, art, architecture, and hidden gems while learning from local historians, experts, and storytellers. Learn more.

9/26/26 — South Farm Field Day (Columbia, MO)
Mizzou’s South Farm Field Day invites the community to explore agricultural research and programs through tastings, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and baby farm animals. Attendees can visit Mizzou’s local outdoor laboratory and learn more about research and opportunities through the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Learn more.

9/25 – 9/27/26 — 18th & Vine Arts Festival (Kansas City, MO)
Experience three days of art, music, fashion, food, culture, and entrepreneurship in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine District. The festival features live performances, local artists and makers, fashion and film showcases, food vendors, family activities, and opportunities to support small businesses and emerging creatives. Learn more.

10/9/26 — Soulard Oktoberfest (St. Louis, MO)
Soulard Oktoberfest celebrates the German heritage of Soulard and St. Louis with two days of food, drinks, live music, and entertainment at Soulard Farmers Market. The free, family-friendly event features an open-air plaza, wine garden, German-themed offerings, and live music, with an optional 21+ VIP tent experience available for purchase. Learn more.

10/10/26 — Legal Services of Eastern Missouri Trivia Night: “Through the Decades” (St. Louis, MO)
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s Trivia Night is a fun-filled evening celebrating LSEM’s 70th anniversary while raising support for its work providing legal services to the community. Guests can enjoy food, drinks, costumes and trivia with friends, family and colleagues, with teams encouraged to embrace their favorite decade through costumes and table décor. Learn more.

10/10/26 — Brew at the Zoo (Kansas City, MO)
Brew at the Zoo is an adults-only evening at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium featuring live music, food trucks, and free samples from more than 30 local breweries and wineries. Tickets also include admission to GloWild: Hidden Treasure, an immersive lantern festival. A portion of proceeds supports the Zoo’s Conservation Fund, with this year’s event highlighting efforts to protect African painted dogs and other vulnerable wildlife. Learn more.

10/21/26 — Introduction to Agilities™ Resources for Educators (Virtual)
Looking for career-building resources for your K-12 classroom or youth organization? Join The DeBruce Foundation for free tools and lesson plans for your students. This virtual session is for educators and those leading after-school programming. Together, we can help young people build bright futures! Learn more.

10/22/26 — United WE Institute Forum: Caregiving at Work in Kansas (Virtual)
The United WE’s “Caregiving at Work” Institute Forum, sponsored by AARP, brings together employers, community leaders, and caregivers to explore practical solutions for supporting working caregivers. The virtual forum will share research, resources, workplace strategies, and real-world examples to help make caregiving a workforce priority in Kansas. Learn more.

11/7/26 — Art of Home Gala & Auction (Grandview, MO)
Flourish: A Furniture Bank’s annual Art of Home Gala & Auction celebrates the power of home while raising funds to provide free furnishings to Kansas City families transitioning out of crisis, housing insecurity, and poverty. The evening will feature dinner, inspiring stories from Flourish families, and live and silent auctions, while showcasing Flourish’s newly expanded warehouse space and its growing impact in the community. Learn more.