Eight Platte County companies were awarded Business Excellence awards for job creation and/or significant expansion and investment projects at the Platte County Economic Development Council’s 28th Annual Business Excellence Luncheon on Dec. 7. These companies contributed more than $176 million in private investment, filled more than 1.5 million square feet of space and created over 800 jobs with potential for another 1,000 jobs at full capacity. “This annual event always…

Joni Cobb, CEO of Pipeline Entrepreneurial Fellowship, announced she will step down from the post at the end of 2019. The program mentors entrepreneurs of high-growth companies. Cobb signed on when Pipeline launched in 2006, expecting to help with startup and pass the baton. Over the past 12 years, Cobb has led Pipeline through significant change and challenge: navigating Pipeline through highs and lows of state funding issues, moving Pipeline to…

Innovative Fulfillment Solutions (IFS), an e-commerce fulfillment and logistics company that is celebrating its 20th year in business in Riverside, Mo., has been acquired by Symbia Logistics of Edwards, Colo. IFS has been a pioneer in providing third-party fulfillment services to e-commerce companies since 1998, getting its start around the time that Amazon became a household name.  “Since launching IFS, we’ve seen explosive growth in online shopping and e-commerce services,”…

Kansas City-based Acendas Travel has expanded its operations with the acquisition of Gwin’s Travel, which has offices in the St. Louis suburbs of Kirkwood, Mo., and Bethalto, Ill. The deal is effective immediately. While current Acendas Travel staff will assume various responsibilities after the purchase, Gwin’s will retain its name and remain as a stand-alone agency. Previous owner Rhonda Kaminski will retire, while the existing staff will stay on board….

With a new office, a growing list of service lines and new executive leadership, the momentum at Veracity Consulting hasn’t slowed since being named a Top 10 Small Business earlier this year. “This has been a crazy – and also exhilarating – year for all of us,” said founder and CEO Angela Hurt. “Keeping up with the company’s growth has been challenging, but it’s definitely a good problem to have.”…