Business Today Newsmakers Award Reception

Business Today Newsmakers pose for a group photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Carisa Stark and John Boy pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Ryan and Emily Blattel pose for a photo with Brittney Lee, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Ryan and Emily Blattel pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

John Mehner, left, Debbie Pensel, center, and Rex Rust pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Aaron and Rhonda Robert pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

From left, Larry Johnson, Mary Jo Johnson, Wilma Dooley and Norma McLane Smith pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Norma McLane Smith and Jim Bailey pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Debbie Stoverink, left, and Debbie Leoni pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

John N. Thompson, left, and Jay Knudtson pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Norma McLane Smith and Gary Rust pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Jeanette and Dan Klobe pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Lisa and Ed DeGaris, left, and David Pruesser pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Jon K. Rust, left, Norma McLane Smith and Gary Rust pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Carrie and Darren Burgfeld chat, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Steve Green, left, and Cindy and Jay Knudtson pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

From left, Carisa Stark, John Boy, Mary Jane Buccheit and Jamie Craig pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Gail, left, and Mike Crader pose for a photo with their niece, Rachel Crader, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Gera LeGrand, left, and Rachel Crader chat, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Robyn Gautschy and Lucas Presson pose for a photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Norma McLane Smith and Gary Rust chat before the awards presentation, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmakers and supporters gather, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmakers and supporters gather, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmakers and supporters gather, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Robyn Gautschy, features and special publications editor at the Southeast Missourian, is introduced to the crowd, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Jim Bailey, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Emily Blattel, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Darren Burgfeld, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Rachel Crader, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Jon K. Rust, Publisher of the Southeast Missourian and Co-President of Rust Communications, introduces Newsmaker Ed DeGaris, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Ed DeGaris, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Stacy Busch-Heisserer, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Molly Hood, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Jeanette Klobe, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications, introduces Newsmaker Jay Knudtson, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Jay Knudtson, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Debbie Leoni, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Brandy McIntire, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Lyle Randolph, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Rhonda Robert, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Carisa Stark, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Denny Ward, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmaker Jimmy Wilferth, center, poses for a photo with John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, and Kathy Bertrand, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Cape Girardeau, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

John N. Thompson, First Midwest Bank community bank president, Jackson, speaks after the awards presentation, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Business Today Newsmakers pose for a group photo, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Joe Crader poses for a photo with his daughter, Rachel Crader, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications, poses for a photo with Rachel Crader, sports editor of semoball.com and the Southeast Missourian, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, during the Business Today Newsmakers award reception at First Midwest Bank in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)