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Talking Shop with Dr. James Stapleton of the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (5/28/13)Dr. James Stapleton is executive director of the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and associate professor of management at Southeast Missouri State University. He researches business dynamics, including the factors associated with job creation, rural innovation and entrepreneurial development. He sat down with the Southeast Missourian to talk about how local communities can encourage a healthy "entrepreneurial ecosystem."...
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Talking Shop with Matt Huber of the John A. Huber Brewing Company (5/20/13)The Huber family calls Hubrew Beer, "Beer the way it should be." They have a variety of beverages available in area stores and restaurants. Matt Huber, CEO and business manager of the John A. Huber Brewing Company, shared his thoughts about business and family...
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Talking Shop with Gary Stroder of Gary & Company Hair Designers (5/13/13)Gary Stroder celebrated his 50th year of hair design and styling in April. Stroder said he loves it as much as the day he started. Q: How did you become interested in hairstyling? A: Surprisingly, I wanted to be an architect. My parents wouldn't send me to school for it so I went [in Cape Girardeau] and you could be a teacher, accountant or get a fine arts degree. ...
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Talking Shop with Ralph LeGrand of Sears (5/6/13)Ralph LeGrand finished 50 years at Sears. He reflected on a long, successful career. Q: How did you come to be employed by Sears 50 years ago? A: I worked at the Red Star shoe factory on Main Street until it closed in 1963. It was tough when it closed. ...
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Talking Shop with Jory Rapps of Fashion Friday (4/29/13)Jory Rapps graduates in two weeks from Southeast Missouri State University. As the culmination of an independent study, he organized Fashion Friday, a fashion block party that's the first of its kind for Downtown Cape Girardeau. The event takes place Friday. Rapps is an interdisciplinary studies major with an emphasis in fashion merchandising, business and interior design...
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Talking Shop with Debbie Hadler Statler of Grandma Bea's All-Natural Products (4/8/13)Debbie Hadler Statler has had a long-running interest in natural products and home remedies. She created Grandma Bea's All-Natural Products and recently opened a storefront in an old bank in Perryville. She specializes in homemade, all-natural products, home remedies, produce and more...
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Talking Shop with Mike Sprouse of River City Coins (3/25/13)Running a small business is tough, but Mike Sprouse of River City Coins & Jewelry wouldn't have it any other way
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Talking Shop with Sharon Penrod of the Pie Safe Bakery and Cafe (3/11/13)What was once the Bank of Pocahontas has become a bakery where members of the community gather
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Talking Shop with James Coley of the Rose Bed Inn (3/4/13)The house at 611 S. Sprigg St., now the Rose Bed Inn, was condemned when James Coley and partner Eldon Nattier acquired it. The two now operate a five-building block that includes the Rose Bed Inn bed and breakfast, Rosewater Spa and Aartful Rose event center. Co-owner Coley serves as chef and described the Rose Bed Inn as "the hardest work I've ever loved." He sat down to answer some of our questions...
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Talking Shop with Jeff Augustine of Jeff Augustine Voice Overs (2/18/13)Q: What is your business? A: I started between five and six years ago and left broadcasting. I always liked the creative side; writing and voicing commercials always appealed to me. I love writing and producing commercials so it seemed like a natural progression. ...
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Talking Shop with John Koepp of Addiction Calls (2/11/13)Award-winning duck, turkey and goose call business owner dealing with success.
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Talking shop with Cora Lee Sample of Pop's Pizza (1/14/13)Cora Lee Sample is celebrating Pop's Pizza's 20th anniversary. Pop's recently added a game room to serve area families, and continues to make the same homemade pizza and provide the quality service they always have. A: The place is named after Doyle Sample. ...
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Talking Shop: Renaissance: A shopping experience that feels like home (12/17/12)For Sherry and Mike Yaeger of Renaissance, having a store in downtown Cape Girardeau is all they have wanted. For 11 years Renaissance has served as their canvas for creating a different kind of shopping experience that feels more like a home than a store. To the Yaegers, having a store is more than merchandise on shelves. They want to inspire people to see things differently. Here, Sherry responds to questions...
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Talking Shop with Michael Davis of Melo-Dee Guitars (12/10/12)Michael Davis is a retired Methodist pastor whose love of music and guitar-making led him to start a business, Melo-Dee Guitars. Davis handcrafts guitars from scratch, and sees music as a way of sharing life with others. Q.: Tell us about yourself and your business....
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Talking Shop with Charlie Bertrand of Spanish Street Mercantile and Ice Cream Parlor (10/22/12)Charlie Bertrand of the Spanish Street Mercantile antique shop and Ice Cream Parlor has a vision for downtown Cape Girardeau that is as unique as his store. Q: Where do you find your items? A: We get them from everywhere: estate sales, auctions, any place that has something interesting. ...
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Talking Shop with Justin Kertz of Habitat for Humanity (10/8/12)Justin Kertz was selected as the executive director for Cape Area Habitat for Humanity just over a month ago. Kertz volunteered with Habitat while attending Southeast Missouri State University. Habitat started in Cape Girardeau in 1985, and, with the help of volunteers, it continues to provide affordable options to give people in need a place to call home...
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Talking Shop with Jon Craiglow of Craiglow's River Delivery (10/1/12)Jon Craiglow of Craiglow's River Delivery has made his career on the Mississippi River as a pilot and currently helps barge lines by running deliveries out to boats on the river. Craiglow said he'll deliver groceries, supplies, crew members and everything else needed, out to a crew on the water...
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Talking shop with Ken Enke, president of Winnelson (9/24/12)Ken Enke was a drummer in need of a day job when a fellow band member told him Winnelson, a wholesale plumbing supply company, was hiring for its warehouse. Fifty years later, Enke is now president and just opened the Bath and Kitchen Idea Center on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau to showcase plumbing products for home and commercial use...
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Talking Shop with Steve Seyer of S&W Cabinets (8/27/12)S&W Cabinets company president Steve Seyer was born the same year his father and grandfather started the company. Now S&W has grown from two men in a shop in Chaffee, Mo., to three divisions with a nationwide client base and continues to grow. S&W is run by the same family and operates by the same traditions and workmanship that it was founded on...
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Talking Shop with Bruce Qualls of Real Baseball Instincts (8/13/12)Bruce Qualls opened Real Baseball Instincts to help area athletes reach the next level. Whether it's moving up from tee-ball to little league, or from playing in high school to college and the pros, RBI's goal is to help develop the complete player, Qualls says. RBI features coaching, camps, clinics and speakers throughout the year. Qualls says he works with players to improve fundamental skills, mental toughness and leadership. Most of all, Qualls says they have fun...
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Talking Shop with Rick McLeod, market director of Procter & Gamble (8/6/12)Former Cape Girardeau Procter & Gamble plant manager Rick McLeod returned to the city Wednesday to speak at the United Way of Southeast Missouri's annual CEO Breakfast. McLeod, who now works as go-to-market director for family care product supply for P&G in Cincinnati talked about his time in Cape Girardeau, his hopes for the future for the local plant and the importance of giving back to the community...
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Talking Shop with David Grimes, deputy director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission (7/9/12)David Grimes, deputy director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission in Perryville, Mo., does a little bit of everything in his job, from transportation planning to environmental issues to homeland security. He loves researching new topics and says his job is the closest thing he can find to school while still getting paid. ...
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Talking shop with Pat Patterson, owner of Pat Patterson Photography (7/2/12)Pat Patterson has been in the business for 30 years, but his interest in photography started at a young age. Now the owner of Pat Patterson Photography, he takes senior, wedding, family and special event portraits for the Cape Girardeau area. He has created a collection of 60 images of Cape Girardeau, which are available for purchase in various formats. Although the vast majority of his work is digital, he does have the capabilities to produce film photographs...
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Talking Shop with Tyler and Rick Cuba of Cuba Financial Group (6/25/12)Looking for a change, Rick Cuba left his career in manufacturing to become a financial planner in the early 1980s. He opened the Cuba Financial Group in Cape Girardeau in 1983 and his son Tyler joined him in 2009. The father and son now work together to help clients plan for their futures...
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Talking Shop with Bill Zellmer, owner of Buffalo Wild Wings and Bagger Dave's (6/18/12)Buffalo Wild Wings and Bagger Dave's owner Bill Zellmer started several businesses of his own before he found success as a franchisee. Zellmer didn't take no for an answer and kept pursuing his dream of owning a successful business. Today, he operates six Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants and just opened his second franchise concept, a burger joint called Bagger Dave's in Town Plaza in Cape Girardeau...
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Talking Shop with Danny Essner, executive vice president at Capaha Bank (6/11/12)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. Danny Essner is a banker by trade -- he's the executive vice president and senior lender at Capaha Bank -- but he works tirelessly to make Cape Girardeau an even better place to live...
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Talking shop with Don Illers, owner of Illers Top of the Hill Berry Farm (6/4/12)Although Illers Top of the Hill Berry Farm in Millersville is only open for picking a few weeks each year, it's a year-round job for Don Illers. "You prune, you spray, you fertilize, there's something to do just about all year long. There's more than people realize," said Illers, who's been growing berries for 31 years...
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Talking Shop with Wayne Turley, owner of Courtesy Cleaners (5/21/12)Wayne Turley, owner of Courtsey Cleaners in Cape Giraedeau, has a long history in the dry cleaning business, but says he's embracing the future by converting to a new "green" cleaning system. The SolvenK4 has different properties than conventional dry cleaning solvents. It's an organic solvent with a pureness of 99 percent. Wayne Turley says he's just doing his part to protect the planet...
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Talking shop with Joe Rozier, vice president of marketing and merchandising with Workforce Employment Solutions (5/14/12)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. ...
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Talking shop with Scott Pietreface, Fumatore di Sigaro (4/9/12)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...
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Talking shop with Robbie Britt, owner of Dynamite Coffee (4/2/12)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. ...
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Talking Shop with Conrad Klusmeier, EMA Alert inventor (3/19/12)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. ...
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Talking Shop with Michael Peters, inventor of Myfloatingbar (3/12/12)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...
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Talking shop with Lauren Jones of The Source - Yoga 'n More (2/20/12)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. ...
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Talking Shop with Dr. Jon Hagler, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture (2/6/12)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...
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Talking Shop with Gina Jansen, owner of the Andrew Jackson Bridal & Tuxedo (1/16/12)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...
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Talking Shop with Dan Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry (1/9/12)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...
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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...
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Talking Shop Matt Goehman, owner of local Huddle House (12/5/11)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? ...
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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...
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Talking shop with Martha Brown, owner of Ms. Martha's Cookies (11/7/11)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...
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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...
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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...
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Talking shop with Justin Denton, owner of Burrito-Ville (10/3/11)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?...
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Talking Shop with Lee Schlitt of Broadway Prescription Shop (9/12/11)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...
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Talking shop with Miki Gudermuth of SADI (9/6/11)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...
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Talking shop with Dana Hukel of BOLD Marketing (8/29/11)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...
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Talking shop with Rob Stephens, marketing director at ServPro (8/22/11)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...
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Talking shop with Nick and Angegiki Sakarelos (8/15/11)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...
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Talking shop with Adam Ross of Ross Furniture (8/8/11)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...
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Talking shop with Rick Hetzel, developer of Insta Golf Shoes (8/1/11)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...
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Talking shop with Larry Angle, Bank of Missouri (7/25/11)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...
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Talking shop with Scott Bryan, director of horticulture at Dalhousie (7/18/11)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?...
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Talking shop with Dr. Edwin Noffel, Center for Orthodontics (7/11/11)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. ...
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Talking shop with Debbie Below, director of admissions at SEMO (7/5/11)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...
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Talking Shop with Gary Elders, Walmart Supercenter general manager (6/27/11)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...
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Talking Shop with Lynn Spriggs, CEO/administrator of The Chateau Girardeau (6/13/11)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?...
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Talking Shop with Sandy Ladd, owner of Sandy's Place (6/6/11)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...
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Talking shop with Ron Rosati, Southeast Missouri State University provost (5/31/11)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...
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Talking shop with Billy Sisco, owner of Sisco's Barber/Hairstyling (5/23/11)After 50 years of service, Billy Sisco feels as though he has never worked a day in his life. Following in his father's footsteps as a barber, Sisco received his certification from Moler's Barbering College in St. Louis on June 12, 1961. He has worked at five locations in downtown Cape Girardeau, where he has also lived his entire life. For the past 17 years, Sisco's Barber/Hairstyling has maintained its current location at Broadway and Sprigg Street...
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Talking Shop with Scott Starzinger and Drew Balsman of HD Media Systems (5/16/11)Scott Starzinger and Drew Balsman have grown HD Media Systems from a part-time job to make extra money on the weekends into an award-winning business. The company received the 2011 Electronic House magazine Home of the Year Award for audio, video, lighting and home automation systems installed in the Cape Girardeau home of Shannon and Angie Davis. ...
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Talking Shop with T. Robin Cole of The Rite Group (5/2/11)T. Robin Cole of The Rite Group left a Wall Street career to come home to Cape Girardeau and take over the family business. He is an advocate for small businesses in Southeast Missouri and works to help local low-income families through his efforts with Habitat for Humanity...
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Talking Shop with the Lysell family of State Beauty Supply (4/25/11)The Lysell family's wholesale beauty supply business has grown steadily in an economy where many others have struggled. It was recognized as State Beauty Supply Store of the Year for 2010 out of 225 State Beauty Supply stores in 18 states. Siblings John, Lindy and Emilie Lysell started working together 19 years ago and continue to see the business grow...
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Talking Shop with John M. Thompson, Bank of Missouri president (4/11/11)John M. Thompson, president of Bank of Missouri, knows that if the community where he lives is successful, then his bank will be too. Throughout his career in finance, he's been dedicated to working to improve his community in a variety of ways, from serving on the SEMO Port Authority board to coordinating fundraising drives for local Boy Scouts...
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Talking Shop with Bob Cerchio, assistant director of the River Campus (4/4/11)When Bob Cerchio was 15 the guy who had the locker next to him in junior high asked him if he wanted to work "on the stage." He's been there ever since. Cerchio, assistant director of Southeast Missouri State University's bustling River Campus, is Southeast's Mr. Entertainment -- the guy responsible for bringing to town everyone from blues legend B.B. King to the zany "Spamalot."...
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Talking Shop with Fred Elias, owner of Elias Ace Hardware (3/28/11)Fred Elias was born into the hardware business and growing up never considered anything but following in his father and grandfather's footsteps. Now that spring is here, he's gearing up for the busiest time of the year at Elias Ace Hardware in Cape Girardeau...
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Talking Shop with Thomas M. Meyer, real estate agent (3/21/11)Growing up in the real estate business in Cape Girardeau, Thomas M. Meyer says he always knew he'd follow in his father's footsteps. He's been involved with some of the largest commercial real estate transactions in the city in recent years and feels giving back to his community is an important business philosophy...
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Talking Shop with Rodney Bridges, owner of Garber's (3/14/11)While many fashion trends have come and gone, Rodney Bridges' menswear store Garber's, located in the Town Plaza shopping center, has been a constant in Cape Girardeau for nearly 40 years. When Garber's opened, there were nine men's stores in the city and today it's the only one left...
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Talking shop with Tim Arbeiter, vice president of community development with the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce (3/7/11)Tim Arbeiter recently received the Charles L. Hutson Visionary Award from Old Town Cape Inc., in recognition of his commitment to revitalize downtown Cape Girardeau. He previously served as the organization's director and now works as vice president of community development with the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce...
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Talking Shop with Janet Esicar (2/21/11)This year's Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Rush H. Limbaugh Award winner is Janet Esicar. The award is presented annually to a successful professional who gives back to the community. Esicar is the second woman to receive the award since it was created in 1989. ...
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Talking Shop with Dr. Greg Leet (2/14/11)Dr. Greg Leet has been examining patients eyes in Cape Girardeau since 1987. Leet Eye- Care is one of Cape Girardeau's fastest-growing small businesses. It has experienced growth of more than 65 percent in the last five years and was named Small Business of the Year at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Feb. 4...
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Talking Shop with Wes Kinsey, co-owner of My Daddy's Cheesecake (2/7/11)Wes Kinsey knows a thing or two about cake, whether it's a layered wedding cake or a dense, rich cheesecake. After 35 years in the baking business and thousands of cakes, he's retiring and has sold his interest in well-known Cape Girardeau bakery and restaurant My Daddy's Cheesecake to his partners, Kevin and Susan Stanfield...
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Talking Shop with science educator Jason Lindsey (1/24/11)Jason Lindsey has used his science skills to inspire area children to become "Hooked on Science" with his demonstrations, articles and television segments for the past seven years. He's worked as a meteorologist and science reporter, but says he loves working with children most of all...
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Talking Shop with Corey Bullard of Southeast CrossFit (1/17/11)Jackson native Corey Bullard and his wife, Ellen, returned to his hometown about two years ago to bring a new concept of fitness and nutrition to Southeast Missouri. At Southeast CrossFit, Bullard works to improve the health and lives of people of all ages and athletic skill levels...
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Talking Shop with Kevin Keith, Missouri Department of Transportation director (1/10/11)Kevin Keith's career with the Missouri Department of Transportation spans more than 25 years. Since being appointed director of the department in November, he has been working to convince Missourians it's time to invest more in infrastructure. Most recently, Keith served as MoDOT's chief engineer, and engineering is something he says he's know he wanted to do from an early age. ...
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Talking Shop with David Knight, president of Ole Hickory Pits and partner in Dream Big LLC (1/3/11)Cape Girardeau businessman David Knight is half of Dream Big LLC, the company that brought Isle of Capri to Cape Girardeau and owned much of the property that makes up the new casino site. Before courting a casino, he got his start in the barbecue business by first opening Port Cape Girardeau and later translating his barbecue know-how into barbecue oven manufacturer Ole Hickory Pits. Throughout his career, he's been committed to revitalizing downtown Cape Girardeau...
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Talking Shop with Maj. Ben Stillwell of the Salvation Army (12/27/10)Maj. Ben Stillwell leads the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau all year long, but his organization is most visible during the Christmas season. Salvation Army bell ringers stand next to red kettles around the region raising money to help those in need...
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Talking Shop with Nick Underwood (12/20/10)Nick Underwood knows a thing or two about cars. He was born into the car business and today carries on the family tradition at Lutesville Motor Co. in Marble Hill, Mo. This year, his family's dealership is celebrating 75 years in business. Question: Share the history of Lutesville Motor Co. ...
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Talking Shop with Ellis Bradshaw (12/13/10)When General Sign closed in June, Ellis Bradshaw, general manager Canedy Sign & Graphics, saw an opportunity for his company to expand. Bradshaw started his career at General Sign and his company, based in Sikeston, Mo., purchased the former General Sign facility on Nash Road this fall as well as its St. Louis office. From billboards to animated LED signs to vehicle wraps, Canedy Sign helps businesses, churches and schools throughout the area share their message...
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Talking Shop with Toshihiko Hirao, BioKyowa CEO (12/6/10)BioKyowa CEO Toshihiko Hirao, a native of Japan, is guiding his company's Nash Road plant in an effort to keep up with growing demands for products made here in markets abroad. The company opened in 1982, producing chicken food additives. In the past 10 years, however, the company has converted most of its operations to producing human-grade amino acids. ...
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Talking Shop with Trisha Wischmann (11/29/10)Trisha Wischmann has operated a bed-and-breakfast in Jackson since 1988, but in recent years has shifted her focus to holistic health practices. She now incorporates her wellness programs and massage therapies into her patrons' experience at TLC Bed and Breakfast...
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Talking shop with Mary Ann Sample, owner of Crystal Cowgirl (11/22/10)Mary Ann Sample started her business in a kiosk at West Park Mall in 2003, and through the years it has grown into a wholesale company she calls Crystal Cowgirl. She was motivated to start her own business as a way to earn extra money to pay for therapies and hearing aids for her two children, who both suffer hearing loss as Ludwig van Beethoven. Earlier this year she opened a retail store, Imagine That, at the mall featuring her crystal designs on boots, hats, mirrors and more...
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Talking Shop with Brenda Warner, Women Inspiring eNtrepreneurship conference speaker (11/15/10)Brenda Warner -- author, mother, philanthropist and wife of former St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner -- will share her life story Saturday during the Women Inspiring eNtrepreneurship conference at Dempster Hall at Southeast Missouri State University. The conference will wrap up a full week of Global Entrepreneurship Week activities sponsored by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship that begin today. For a complete schedule, visit www.semo.edu/gew or call 651-2010...
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Talking Shop with Karen Green (11/8/10)The upcoming holiday season is a time of joy and giving for many people, but its an extremely busy time of the year for the Southeast Missouri Food Bank, executive director Karen Green said. Her job is both a personal challenge and a God-given privilege, she said...
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Talking shop with Carl Kasell (11/1/10)National Public Radio's veteran broadcaster Carl Kasell recently lent his famous voice to local NPR affiliate KRCU's fall fundraising campaign. Since retiring from NPR's "Morning Edition," Kassel now travels the country as NPR's reaving ambassador and serves as judge and scorekeeper for the weekly news quiz show "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me." During his more than 60 years in radio, he's seen many changes but says radio will continue to be a valuable medium...
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Talking Shop with Donnie Beggs (10/25/10)While Phobia Farm is only open for business one month out of the year, Donnie Beggs works year-round to make sure those who pass through his 12,000 square feet of frightful scenes come out screaming. After hosting family-friendly fall harvest festivals at Beggs Family Farm in Blodgett, Mo., for many years, the Beggs family is now trying to reach an older audience with the fight-filled Phobia Farm...
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Talking Shop with Mike Smythe (10/18/10)Mike Smythe, KFVS12 vice president and general manger, received an Emmy Award for his ViewPoint segment at the annual National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences regional banquet Oct. 9 in St. Louis. His entry in the Commentary/Editorial category competed with television stations in markets of all sizes throughout the Midwest, including St. Louis, Kansas City, Little Rock, Ark., and Springfield, Mo...
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Talking Shop with Elizabeth Hileman, director of the Safe House for Women Thrift Shop (10/11/10)Elizabeth Hileman, director of the Safe House for Women Thrift Shop, runs a business where all the profits go to support a cause close to her heart. Because of the thrift shop's success under Hileman's direction, the Safe House has been able to expand its programs and help more women struggling as a result of domestic violence...
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Talking Shop with Stan Crader, president of CDC-BME (10/4/10)Stan Crader of Jackson started out screwing nuts onto bolts at his grandfather's International Harvester tractor dealership in Marble Hill, Mo. He soon graduated to refilling the GoJo dispenser and cleaning the toilets at Crader Equipment Co. The company's focus turned to growing its Stihl chain saw distribution, and after returning from college Crader started working with his father full time at what was then called Crader Distributing Co. ...
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Talking Shop with Cheryl Mothes, financial adviser with Edward Jones (9/27/10)As a former nurse, Cheryl Mothes looked after people's physical health, but since joining Edward Jones as a financial adviser 11 years ago, she has focused on her clients' financial health. She became interested in investing when she couldn't understand her own retirement statement and now helps others build their own wealth...
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Talking Shop with Angie Umfleet of Chap Arnold Insurance (9/20/10)Along with helping her customers with their claims, Angie Umfleet of Chap Arnold Insurance in Cape Girardeau helps make a difference in the community through her involvement with the United Way of Southeast Missouri and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce...
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Talking Shop with Dr. Steven Hoffman, coordinator of the Historic Preservation Program at Southeast Missouri State University (9/13/10)Dr. Steven Hoffman, coordinator of the Historic Preservation Program at Southeast Missouri State University, has played an important role in the revitalization of downtown Cape Girardeau. He said restoring historic buildings not only improves aesthetics and quality of life but also creates to jobs and new opportunities for commerce...
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Dennis Vollink logs a lot of time in the air as president of Drury Southwest Inc. (9/7/10)Dennis Vollink, president of Drury Southwest Inc., got his start with the company as a pilot and engineer. Although his role with the company has evolved over the years, he still flies regularly as he travels to tend to business at Drury properties in several Western states...
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Talking Shop with Mike Rust, owner of Rust & Martin (8/30/10)Mike Rust, Rust & Martin president, is busy coordinating the transition to its new location in the Regents Parc building at 1610 N. Kingshighway. Rust is carrying on the family business, started by his grandfather, that continually evolves as styles change...
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Talking Shop with John Selby, owner of Stereo One in Cape Girardeau (8/23/10)John Selby, owner of Stereo One in Cape Girardeau, has seen countless advances in technology since he began selling stereos in the 1970s. Today his store sells much more than stereos, including home theater equipment and home automation systems that allow people to control everything from alarm systems to thermostats on their iPhones...
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Talking Shop with David Soto of SOTO Property Management (8/16/10)When David Soto started investing in rental property, he hired a property management firm to help him. About three years ago, he bought the company and now he's managing properties all over Cape Girardeau, matching property owners with potential tenants...
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Talking Shop with Karen Freeman, founder, Avery's Amazing Marinade (8/9/10)Karen Freeman of Gordonville turned a recipe she created into a new career and growing business with Avery's Amazing Marinade. Freeman now sells and demonstrates the product at several local stores and hopes to soon take the product, named after her dog, to stores nationwide...
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Talking Shop with Cheryl Klueppel, executive director, American Red Cross Southeast Missouri Chapter (8/2/10)As executive director of the American Red Cross Southeast Missouri Chapter, Cheryl Klueppel makes sure that her organization is there to help. Each year, under Klueppel's direction the Red Cross helps about 725 people who have lost their homes to a fire and 275 families who need to contact loved ones who are serving in the military. Another 16,000 people receive medical or disaster preparedness training...
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Talking shop with Dr. Sean Byrd, DVM, Skyview Animal Clinic (7/26/10)Dr. Sean Byrd, DVM, considers himself "your other family doctor." After all, pets are part of the family too. Since joining Skyview Animal Clinic in 2002, his practice has continued to grow. In the last five years, Skyview's patient load has increased from 11,000 to 18,000 clients annually and the staff has grown from five to 18. Earlier this year the clinic was named Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the year...
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Talking shop with Eric Gooden, owner of Cape Bicycle Cycling & Fitness (7/19/10)Eric Gooden came to Cape Girardeau just to go to college, but soon bought a house, then a small bicycle shop and decided to stay. Thirty-two years later, Cape Bicycle Cycling & Fitness Inc. continues to grow and expand while encouraging people to add cycling as part of a healthy lifestyle...