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River stage: 22.23 ft. Falling
Monday, May 21, 2012

Talking Shop

Talking shop with Joe Rozier, vice president of marketing and merchandising with Workforce Employment Solutions (05/14/12)
Editor's note: This story originally appeared in Business Today, the Southeast Missourian's monthly business magazine. To receive a copy of Business Today, email Cheryl Ellis at cellis@semissourian.com or call 388-2785. Born and raised in Ste. ...
Talking shop with Scott Pietreface, Fumatore di Sigaro (04/09/12)
Scott Pietreface, owner of Fumatore di Sigaro Premier Lounge and Cigar Shoppe, opened his business to share his passion for hand-rolled cigars with others. After gathering ideas from other cigar lounges around the country, he decided to operate one in Cape Girardeau complete with Spanish cedar and mahogany cabinets, leather sofas, big-screen televisions and a poker table. His retail store sells cigars from around the world as well as accessories...
Talking shop with Robbie Britt, owner of Dynamite Coffee (04/02/12)
When it comes to coffee, Robbie Britt is competitive. The owner of Dynamite Coffee just finished in the top six at the Big Central Regional Barista Competition held in Chicago in March. This qualified him to compete in the United States Barista Championships in Portland, Ore., later this month. ...
Talking Shop with Conrad Klusmeier, EMA Alert inventor (03/19/12)
Conrad Klusmeier wanted to protect his father, who had just been released from the hospital. His background as an emergency responder told him his father's home could be hard for an ambulance to find. He knew helping emergency responders to find his father's house could save them precious seconds, and possibly save his life. ...
Talking Shop with Michael Peters, inventor of Myfloatingbar (03/12/12)
Michael Peters is in the business of fun. With his invention, Myfloatingbar, he says he's taking the party to the water. Now, his creation is competing in an online contest, "Get on the Shelf," sponsored by Wal-Mart. He's hoping to be one of three winners with the most votes to get a shot at selling his product on Walmart.com or in physical Walmart stores...
Talking shop with Lauren Jones of The Source - Yoga 'n More (02/20/12)
Lauren Jones was initially skeptical about yoga. She stumbled into her first yoga class by accident. Years later she's now turned her passion for sharing yoga's healing abilities into a thriving business. Jones, a former model, earned MBA degrees from Columbia Business School and London Business School. ...
Talking Shop with Dr. Jon Hagler, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture (02/06/12)
With his trademark cowboy hat on, Dr. Jon Hagler, the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, travels the state working with farms and agribusinesses. After the Birds Point levee breach last May, Hagler was one of the first state officials on the scene meeting with Mississippi County farmers. Friday he was back in Southeast Missouri, discussing the effect of Missouri's No. 1 industry and the challenges facing it with members of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce...
Talking Shop with Gina Jansen, owner of the Andrew Jackson Bridal & Tuxedo (01/16/12)
Gina Jansen has been helping brides and grooms plan for that special day for more than 20 years as owner of The Andrew Jackson Bridal & Tuxedo. She worked at the store for several years before purchasing it from Tom Schulte 20 years ago this month. Through the years, she has expanded the store's selection to include bridal and prom dresses. Jansen also organizes the annual Own the Night prom show set for this Sunday at the Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau...
Talking Shop with Dan Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry (01/09/12)
For more than a decade, Dan Mehan has been at the helm of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry working to make Missouri a better state to do business in. He visited and spoke at the Show Me Center Friday at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee...
Talking shop Stacy Busch-Heisserer, owner of Busch Pet Products (12/12/11)
As the daughter of kennel owners and dog handlers, it's no surprise Stacy Busch-Heisserer ended up in the pet care industry. Her business, Busch Pet Products, got its start strictly with online sales. It has expanded to include both a retail store and self-service dog wash in addition to its website...
Talking Shop Matt Goehman, owner of local Huddle House (12/05/11)
Matt Goehman got his start flipping foreclosed houses and soon added an apartment complex and two hotels to his property portfolio. Three years ago, he got into the restaurant business and now owns two Huddle House franchises in Cape and Jackson. Q: Today you own an apartment complex, two hotels and two restaurants. How did your business career begin? ...
Talking shop Sharon Ebersohl, owner of Kid Biz in Town Plaza (11/28/11)
After being downsized from her job as a department store manager, Sharon Ebersohl decided to take her retail experience and open her own children's resale store, Kid Biz in Town Plaza. Not only did she create a job for herself, she now employs four others as her business continues to grow...
Talking shop with Martha Brown, owner of Ms. Martha's Cookies (11/07/11)
When Martha Brown isn't working in the city of Cape Girardeau's planning department, she can be found in her kitchen baking up a batch of specialty cookies or cupcakes. Brown started Ms. Martha's Cookies last year and since then, her business has grown and expanded to include cinnamon rolls, cupcakes and other specialty desserts...
Talking shop with the Geis family of Culver's (10/24/11)
The Geis family loved going to Culver's in their hometown of Fond du Lac, Wis. In fact, there are three Culver's in Fond du Lac, not far from where the restaurant chain got its start in Sauk City, Wis. When Rick Geis decided he was ready for a career change, he along with his wife Barb and their son Aaron, decided to move to Cape Girardeau to open a Culver's here and share the food they loved with a new market...
Talking Shop with Elizabeth Knote, inventor of Bedbug Baker (10/17/11)
Bedbugs don't stand a chance against Elizabeth Knote. She's invented the Bedbug Baker, which heats luggage or furniture to a fatal temperature of 122 degrees. The owner of Cape-Kil Pest Control in Cape Girardeau will be showing off her creation at the National Pest Management Association's annual conference in New Orleans being held Wednesday through Saturday...
Talking shop with Justin Denton, owner of Burrito-Ville (10/03/11)
Justin Denton, owner of Burrito-Ville in Cape Girardeau, turned his passion for Mexican food into a restaurant where they'll wrap up almost anything in a tortilla and serve it to you as a burrito. Q: What was your motivation behind opening Burrito-Ville?...
Talking Shop with Lee Schlitt of Broadway Prescription Shop (09/12/11)
After more than a decade in the banking business, Lee Schlitt of Cape Girardeau is now a small-business owner after teaming up with friend and pharmacist Kevin Wood to buy Broadway Prescription Shop. Schlitt says he enjoys giving back to a community that has given him so much over the years and he's looking forward to seeing what the future holds for downtown Cape Girardeau...
Talking shop with Miki Gudermuth of SADI (09/06/11)
Miki Gudermuth, founder and executive director of SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, has dedicated her career to helping others, who like her, have struggled with a disability. SADI provides services to those with disabilities with the goal of enabling them to live independently in their own homes within their community...
Talking shop with Dana Hukel of BOLD Marketing (08/29/11)
Dana Hukel took a bold step when she started her own business, BOLD Marketing, in her basement. After spending several years in health care marketing, she serves many health care clients in her business as well as other local companies and not-for-profit organizations. Her business and staff continue to expand, at a time when many other businesses are scaling back...
Talking shop with Rob Stephens, marketing director at ServPro (08/22/11)
Rob Stephens, marketing director for ServPro of Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties, has seen more than a few messes in his day. Whether it's lipstick in a carpet, a flooded basement or a school's music room drenched after a storm blew off the roof, he helps coordinate the cleanup. Stephens not only serves ServPro's customers, he's a dedicated volunteer serving the community with his involvement in a number of local organizations from Rotary to the Red Cross and both local chambers of commerce...
Talking shop with Nick and Angegiki Sakarelos (08/15/11)
Nick and Angegiki Sakarelos came to Southeast Missouri from Greece in search of the American dream. In 1983, the couple bought the Grecian Steak House in Cape Girardeau. The restaurant recently reopened after undergoing 10 months of extensive renovations to repair damage from a devastating fire in September. The fire was caused by a compressor in the salad bar...
Talking shop with Adam Ross of Ross Furniture (08/08/11)
Twenty-four-year-old Adam Ross of Ross Furniture in Jackson manages the store his father and grandfather started in 1979. The Cape Girardeau native said his store's tradition of offering quality furniture has helped the business grow and made it a continuing success...
Talking shop with Rick Hetzel, developer of Insta Golf Shoes (08/01/11)
After a 30-year law enforcement career and his development of a successful property management business, entrepreneur Rick Hetzel is shifting his focus to a sport he's loved since childhood -- golf. He's developed Insta Golf Shoes and is now marketing the product to golfers and sporting goods retailers across the nation...
Talking shop with Larry Angle, Bank of Missouri (07/25/11)
Larry Angle, vice president of consumer lending for the Bank of Missouri, has spent the past 50 years working in the profession and has seen it change with new technology and fluctuations in the economy. The Cape Girardeau native said that although he is proud of his many professional accomplishments, spending time with his wife and family bring him the most satisfaction...
Talking shop with Scott Bryan, director of horticulture at Dalhousie (07/18/11)
Scott Bryan's goal is that golfers at Dalhousie Golf Club get a sense of nature and awe along with their 18 holes. For the past three years, it's been Bryan's job as director of horticulture to keep Dalhousie beautiful. Q: How did you become interested in horticulture?...
Talking shop with Dr. Edwin Noffel, Center for Orthodontics (07/11/11)
For half a century, Dr. Edwin Noffel has made the smiles of local children and adults beautiful. The Portageville, Mo., native said the biggest thrill he gets from practicing orthodontics is seeing how his work affects the lives of his patients and forming lifelong friendships with them. ...
Talking shop with Debbie Below, director of admissions at SEMO (07/05/11)
Debbie Below got some good advice as a teen, the kind that changed her life. The Washington, Mo., native took her first trip to Cape Girardeau her senior year in high school after a Southeast Missouri State University student recommended she tour the campus...
Talking Shop with Gary Elders, Walmart Supercenter general manager (06/27/11)
Gary Elders, general manager at Walmart Supercenter in Cape Girardeau, grew up in Southeast Missouri, so he knows what shoppers here like. After climbing the company's corporate ladder for more than 20 years, he returned home last year to head the Cape Girardeau store and spend more time with his extended family...
Talking Shop with Lynn Spriggs, CEO/administrator of The Chateau Girardeau (06/13/11)
Lynn Spriggs' first experience with Chateau Girardeau was visiting her grandfather when he lived there. Today, after working in several different capacities, she serves at CEO/administrator of the retirement community in Cape Girardeau. Question: How has your career evolved to get you to where you are today?...
Talking Shop with Sandy Ladd, owner of Sandy's Place (06/06/11)
Since 2008, Sandy's Place at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport has been serving hungry customers who fly or drive to the restaurant. With help from some of her family, owner Sandy Ladd serves up Southern favorites like catfish, fried chicken and barbecue ribs to customers she feels are part of her family, too...
Talking shop with Ron Rosati, Southeast Missouri State University provost (05/31/11)
Ron Rosati once dreamed of being a dairy farmer before he embarked on his career path in higher education. Rosati, Southeast Missouri State University's provost and well-traveled academic, said after some experience in the field, so to speak, he earned a fresh respect for farmers. The first thing he learned was cows never take a break...