Talking Shop

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."...

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...

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. ...

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. ...

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...

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...

Running a small business is tough, but Mike Sprouse of River City Coins & Jewelry wouldn't have it any other way

What was once the Bank of Pocahontas has become a bakery where members of the community gather

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...

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. ...

Award-winning duck, turkey and goose call business owner dealing with success.

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. ...

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...

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....

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...