Working behind the scenes of the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Director Amy Schneider has experienced life in several cities, from Manhattan, Kansas, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota — but in the end, Columbia became a permanent fixture for her.
Schneider first moved to Columbia in 1989 to attend the University of Missouri, where she studied hospitality management and administration. Her first attempt at college didn’t go as planned, so she entered the workforce with the intention of returning when the timing felt right.
“[I was offered a job] at a hospitality company, and I was what they called a ‘traveling manager,’” says Schneider. “So I moved to where they need people to look over their hotel.”
The role often required relocating every few months — a lifestyle that could have kept her on the road indefinitely. Eventually, Schneider was transferred from Kansas City back to Columbia after about five years, bringing her unexpected clarity. Though a difficult decision, she decided to leave the company because she knew she wouldn’t want to leave Columbia again upon returning. While her career had taken her to larger cities, Schneider says what she missed most about Columbia was its people. Building community elsewhere proved difficult, while Columbia offered something she hadn’t found on the road.
“When people realize that you want to become involved [in Columbia] and know that you are new to the community, I feel like they do go out of the way to make you feel welcomed,” says Schneider.
Beyond her career, Columbia’s supportive community became even more important to her family. One community that has been particularly warm is CPS. Schneider recalls an anecdote of when her daughter was in middle school, and her husband had fallen ill.
“I was able to talk to the counselors and teachers, and they really had my daughter’s back to make sure she was doing OK during that time,” says Schneider. “I will always respect them for that.”
Now, Schneider’s daughter teaches for CPS, highlighting the family’s continued investment in the city and its education system.
Schneider also admires the various art communities in Columbia, as well as the number of community events that take place year-round, from Art in the Park to the True/False Film Fest. When asked what her favorite community event is, she simply laughed and said it was like asking a mother to pick her favorite child.
“I get to come to work daily and find out about all of these cool things — festivals and events — that are going on,” says Schneider. “I get to talk with the people planning all of these special events — the people who make Columbia move and groove, and I feel blessed that we have a community like that.”
The Columbia, MOre website includes a variety of activities and events going on in Columbia throughout the year, including but not limited to:
- Club sports and intramurals that are open to the public
- Music in iconic live venues like the Missouri Theatre, The Blue Note, and Rose Music Hall
- 3,600+ acres of parkland and 90+ miles of trails
- True/False Film Fest, Art in the Park, Show-Me State Games, and First Fridays in the North Village Arts District
“I was out in different parts of the Midwest and saw different cities, and in between cities, I would come back to Columbia,” Schneider explains. “Every time I came back to Columbia, I knew it was where I wanted to end up. I may have been ready to get out with that first job, but as soon as I came back, I knew I would do whatever it took to make sure I moved back for good because it just felt like the place I needed to be.”
Schneider invites people interested in moving to Columbia to come check it out — even if for two or three days, just to get a feel for what the city has to offer. She guarantees a visit will lead to a longer stay.