Newsmakers 2014

The motivation behind Cape Girardeau police chief Wes Blair is his 10-year-old son. When his son grows up, Blair wants him to be able to say his father cared and tried to make a difference in his community, and succeeded. "What motivates me is the legacy that I'm trying to build," Blair says...

Paul Schock is known for more than the pub in Scott City that shares his name; he is a familiar face in a variety of community groups and organizations, such as the Scott City Community Interactive Parks Program (SCIPP), the Scott City Kiwanis Club, the Scott City Historical Preservation Commission and Historical Society and the Scott City Landlord Association, among others...

Being a team player is an important part of Nicholle Hinkle's job title as the project manager at Old Town Cape, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the revitalization of downtown Cape Girardeau. She works with a variety of people, from Old Town Cape's partners and sponsors to downtown business owners -- a part she loves about her job, but that also requires flexibility...

If Dr. Michael Aide, professor and chairman of the Department of Agriculture at Southeast Missouri State University, isn't teaching or on a farm, he probably is attending an agriculture-related event. If there is one thing he's passionate about, it's agriculture...

The people are what have kept Mark Dirnberger in the restaurant business since one of his first jobs: working at the Burger King on Broadway in Cape Girardeau when he was 16. "I get a big kick out of watching people sit and enjoy themselves and converse," he says. "Having a place of your own that people can come to and enjoy themselves is what really makes it all worth the while to me."...

Linda McKinnis, owner and designer of Design Exclusive, says her job -- using her creativity to design and decorate weddings, events, homes and projects -- doesn't feel like work at all. "It is extremely fulfilling being in a field that I absolutely love," she says. "Creating each project is uniquely different, which in return, makes my work never boring and one of the most rewarding things in my life."...

Casey Brunke, Cape Girardeau city engineer, strives to make Cape Girardeau better for its residents and visitors, whether it is working with transportation or infrastructure projects. If Cape Girardeau offers top-notch streets and infrastructure, it betters the entire community, she says...

The year 2013 was a great one for Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. First, he received his professional economic development certification, and then he won the Glenn Shepard Excellence in Leadership Award, chosen from a small pool of nominees nationwide...

Rochelle Steffen is an animal rescue advocate who operates the "Mac the pitbull" Facebook page. Her Facebook campaign has raised thousands of dollars which she donates to animal shelters and rescues. Steffen's inspiration for all her hard work is Mac, her rescued pit bull...

Randy McWilson considers it a blessing to interface with the next generation and share his passion for digital media. Teaching goes much deeper than lecturing from behind a podium, he says -- it's about sharing life lessons, character and interpersonal relationships...

As director of pharmacy services at SoutheastHEALTH, Nicole Allcock has implemented a comprehensive model of pharmacy services in which doctors, nurses and pharmacists take a team approach to hospital patient care. "Pharmacists now practice side-by-side with nurses and physicians on patient care units. Having a pharmacist on the direct patient care team reduces adverse effects and improves the quality of patient care," she says...

Mary Burton always knew she wanted to help people when she grew up, and she's done exactly that -- first as a lab technician and nurse in various medical settings, then as executive director of the Red Cross in Southeast Missouri, director of the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation and, as of August, executive director of the Community Counseling Center Foundation in Cape Girardeau...

Lucas Presson loves his work at the Southeast Missourian, in part because it's never boring. "Whether it's working with the editorial board, reading columns or stories or working on a major project like the Semoball Awards, I'm blessed to enjoy my job and work with a great team," he says. "I often tell folks that one of the greatest joys is writing the daily prayer for the opinion page, which often comes from scripture."...

Ilena Aslin is a community advocate volunteer for AARP Missouri, which is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization. "[AARP] helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families, such as health care, employment security and retirement planning," says Aslin. "I love being a part of making this happen."...

Bob Clubbs says he loves to make people smile and laugh, and he does it in a number of roles: husband, father, teacher and, most recently, as a "social mediarologist" who shares news about the weather via his Facebook page, "FB Weather with Bob Clubbs."...

Beth Seabaugh has made it her career and personal mission to increase the level of emergency preparedness in Southeast Missouri. As community resilience services coordinator for the American Red Cross -- Southern Missouri Region, one of Seabaugh's biggest projects has been carrying out the brand-new Pillowcase Project, a disaster preparedness program for children. ...

Texas native Alex Ogburn moved to Cape Girardeau nearly 10 years ago and began working at Saint Francis Medical Center, where he now serves as vice president of ambulatory services. His job involves coordinating among various departments, from food service to materials management to security, to provide the support the hospital staff needs in order to deliver good health care...

Danny Essner, executive vice president and senior lender at Capaha Bank, enjoys the banking business for several reasons. "As a banker, I love the opportunity to help my customers achieve their financial goals, which can range from buying a new home to starting a new business to building a new apartment building," he says. "I particularly enjoy commercial lending, since it allows me to learn about a wide variety of businesses."...