Big in business: 5 men and women who help move and shake Southeast Missouri

Kathy Swan

Kathy Swan (Kit Doyle)

__President of JCS Wireless__

Kathy Swan, a former nurse, has always found her way back to JCS Wireless, started by her father in 1959. Today, she co-owns the business with her husband, Reg. Swan admits the recession has been difficult, but she believes Southeast Missouri will eventually see a "slow, steady improvement" and rise stronger than before.

"Sometimes the best thing to come out of a challenge is strength," she says. "In easy economic times we tend to overlook the weaknesses in our own companies. In tough times, we have to knuckle down and evaluate ourselves so we can do the best job we can do with the resources we have." Swan hopes the recession has taught businesses to "run leaner and more effectively," and that they will continue to do so after the economy improves.

Still, Swan's best business advice applies to economic lows as well as highs.

"Learn as much as you possibly can about running a business," says Swan, noting the most valuable course she ever took was accounting. Human resources, marketing and business management are also vital business skills in Swan's book. Figure out what's needed or wanted in the area, and don't give up, says Swan: "A lot of people have dreams, but they need the information to make them a reality, and then to help stay in business."

Phil Penzel

Phil Penzel

__President of Penzel Construction Co., Jackson__

Linus Penzel started Penzel Construction Co. in 1910. Today, the business is in the hands of his great grandson: Phil Penzel lives for industrial projects and says power plants are his favorite. "It's a challenge for me. It takes a special talent to do that kind of work," he says. But lately, Penzel's biggest challenge is the economic recession.

"People are holding back on projects, so there's not a whole lot of action," he says. He believes when the economy cycles back, people will regain confidence and the company will see an increase in business. In the meantime, Penzel is keeping busy with MoDOT's Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program. The company has built nine bridges in the past nine months.

In the future, Penzel hopes to see new industrial and manufacturing businesses, as they will create jobs and fuel the economy. Southeast Missouri has much to offer and can compete with other areas, he adds, thanks to a variety of education, transportation, entertainment, recreation and business outlets.

"Getting companies to take a chance and expand is the only hard thing," says Penzel.

His best advice for new businesses? "Make darn sure you have a company business plan," says Penzel. "Don't try to be overly optimistic. You need to prepare for the downfall. You might want to wait and see the signs of the economy heating back up first ... Make sure it's what you really want to do and that there's a market for it."

Tom Schulte

__Southeast Missouri district director for Sen. Kit Bond__

Tom Schulte has worked in Sen. Kit Bond's office for 23 years, but has been immersed in Southeast Missouri's business world for much longer. Before taking on the district director role, he served as president of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson Merchants Association, a member of the Notre Dame Regional High School board, and was active in local charities.

Tom Schulte

"My background in the region has been very beneficial," says Schulte, who now serves as a liaison between Bond and residents of 22 counties.

As he looks back on 2009 and forward to 2010, infrastructure remains a top priority. Recent highlights include the opening of LaSalle Avenue between Cape Girardeau and Jackson, road and rail improvements connecting area ports, Cape Girardeau's DREAM Initiative and Jackson's uptown beautification project. Better infrastructure means more jobs, better access to new markets and improved safety, says Schulte, and that's a big step for moving the economy in a positive direction.

"Replicating the sound industry we already have is a big key," he says, citing large employers like Procter & Gamble and Briggs & Stratton. It will take awhile to recover from the recession, he adds, but he believes in the strength of the workforce. "There's something special about Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri that tends to attract business. These are good people," says Schulte. "I'm encouraged by how sound the economy is. For being in a recession, we have good employers and employees."

Wayne Smith

__Vice president of development and administrative services at Saint Francis Medical Center__

Wayne Smith worked for wireless and telephone companies in Missouri, Illinois and Texas before returning to Cape Girardeau as vice president of advancement for his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State University. In 2008, he accepted his current position at Saint Francis Medical Center, where he oversees a number of hospital operations, as well as 2,000 employees and 400 volunteers.

"Cape is very blessed to have a major medical community with two hospitals, a university and Procter & Gamble," says Smith. "Those are four anchors of products and services, and at the same time, they consume products and services that allow the economy to be less impacted by the downturns. It's a very conservative business community. The upticks are slow and the downticks are less, and I'm OK with that. I like growth, but it should be solid -- not like when you take a bite of cotton candy and there's nothing there."

Smith believes Southeast Missouri is "fertile ground for entrepreneurship done appropriately," as long as new ventures balance the already existing businesses.

Wayne Smith is vice president of administration and development at Saint Francis Medical Center. (Fred Lynch)

"Diversity is important in a community," he says. "You don't want to overweigh or depend on a single entity because that's dangerous." Smith would like to see growth in downtown Cape Girardeau, and believes the DREAM Initiative may the first step in transforming the area into a more accurate representation of the business community.

Smith recommends Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as a resource for starting a new business; a great banker is also crucial.

"Find a mentor or coach who's been there and done it ... they've made the mistakes and can help you avoid the potholes and get to the finish line a lot quicker," he adds. Getting involved in the community is one way to meet and form relationships with these local leaders. "In my opinion, businesses that become involved in the community and try to serve are far more successful than those that do not," says Smith.

Tom Kelsey

__Broker and president of Lorimont Place Ltd.__

Tom Kelsey grew up surrounded by the real estate profession. His father was a real estate broker, developer and builder, and Kelsey worked in the family business until starting his own company, along with Earl Norman, in 1993. The economy has affected real estate, but Kelsey believes the local market has fared well.

"With its conservative business climate, it has never had the boom to bust cycles as you would find in other parts of the country," he explains. "We have been affected by the present downturn-type economy, but we have found that there are still many opportunities here in our region for sellers, buyers, tenants and investors of commercial real estate." He adds, "I'm pleased to say that for most of our business clients, it's still business as usual. Yeah, they do have a more cautious spirit, but it's not keeping them from doing things they need to do."

In fact, Lorimont has seen a number of companies expand or open new businesses this year, says Kelsey: Nobbe John Deere is building a new facility, Morlan is opening a new Chrysler dealership, Candlewood Suites is constructing a new hotel and Cardiovascular Consultants is building a new center. With these developments come more employees, customers and visitors in need of places to eat and shop, thereby fueling the local economy.

Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place, Ltd. (Fred Lynch)

As a man long steeped in the real estate industry, Kelsey believes in this famous key to business success: Location, location, location. Proper planning and capitalization are also essential.

"You have to be well capitalized," says Kelsey. "Unfortunately, I see it happen all the time where someone has a great idea, they're dedicated, they're not afraid to work, but then they have some money trouble." He adds, "There is no substitute for knowledge and experience. Honest research of your field of endeavor is often the difference in failure or success."