Business briefs

Art studio opens

Mike Devaney, a novice artist, announces the grand opening of the new Studio de Michel on North Main Street in Ste. Genevieve.

Coinciding with the new monthly Fourth Friday Ste. Genevieve Art Walk, the grand opening in July, the studio featured painter James F. Wilson of Mineral Area College along with local artists from the Ste. Genevieve and St. Louis areas.  

Devaney rented the space to use as an art studio where he could get away and have the room to paint on weekends and some evenings. He soon realized that there was enough space to display the second annual arts and crafts exhibit, Creative Minds for Mental Health, of which he was chairman. After the success of that exhibit, he decided to continue displaying artworks and invited his fellow artists in the Ste. Genevieve Art Guild to hang their work. The response from tourists, artists and the community has been very positive.

Studio de Michel (et la Galerie d’Art) is an open artist studio and art gallery located at 39 N. Main Street in Ste. Genevieve.  Studio de Michel is open some evenings by appointment and on weekends. The Studio has a Web site and blog at www.TypEtching.com.

Havco Wood Products reduces workforce by 60 full-time, 11 part-time employees

Havco Wood Products has cut the workforce at its Cape Girardeau plant by 60 full-time and 11 temporary employees.

In a news release, Havco President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Bader said the housing market was partly to blame for the decision.

"The workforce reduction being announced today is a result of the prolonged residential housing correction and overall macroeconomic conditions in the United States," Bader said. "The trucking industry has experienced a significant reduction in freight tonnage in recent months and as a result new orders for trailers have slowed. Accordingly, we are forced to reduce our workforce."

After the reduction, the workforce at the facility will be about 160 people.

Havco is the world’s largest producer of laminated truck trailer flooring. In addition to the Cape Girardeau facility, Havco also operates a plant in Vonore, Tenn.

Drury ranks high among customers

In a customer satisfaction survey by J.D. Power and Associates, Drury Inn and Suites ranked first among mid-scale hotel chains with limited service. Not only did the hotel receive top ranking in the category for the third consecutive year, but finished just four points behind the Ritz-Carlton overall, which received 836 out of a possible 1,000 points.

The survey was based on responses from 53,000 guests who stayed in a hotel between May 2007 and June 2008. Among the 16 hotel chains ranked in its class, Drury’s closest competitor was Spring Hill Suites.

The hotel chain was recognized after the North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study, which reviewed hotels’ reservations, check-in/check-out, guest room, food and beverage, services, facilities and costs and fees. In a news release, Chuck Drury, president and chief executive officer of the Drury Inn and Suites, said his hotels pride themselves on friendly service and numerous free amenities, including a hot breakfast, evening beverages, long-distance calls for up to one hour and wireless Internet.

Brazilian delegation visits SEMO port

A Brazilian delegation paid a visit to the Southeast Missouri Port Authority in Scott City. The group, made up of officials from a variety of Brazilian state and federal agencies, was observing inland waterway facilities and operations in the United States. Sponsored by the Brazilian National Agency for Waterways, the trip also included stops in St. Louis, New Orleans and Chester, Ill.

Newell Rubbermaid adding 40 jobs

Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid will soon increase its work force by 10 percent at its Jackson facility. Company spokeswoman Connie Bryant said the plant, which manufactures Rubbermaid organization products including wire and wood shelving and garage organization solutions, will add 40 jobs to its force of 400 employees.

Jobs will include light production, material handler, tool and die maker and various office positions.

The jobs are coming to the 700,000-square-foot facility at 1901 Lee St. as a result of new business from a large retail partner.

New boutique shop opens

A taste of Paris has come to Cape Girardeau with the opening of Dee Chilton Boutique. The store, 517 N. Silver Springs Road, will carry high-end designer clothing, purses, hairpieces, wigs and other accessories for women sizes 2 to 26. Owner Seymour Chilton said he can also provide custom tailoring on the spot. The boutique will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday.

Cement plant in Ste. Genevieve adds staff

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. —Holcim Inc. has added cement technicians from Southeast Missouri to its plant operations staff in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. Scheduled to open in 2009, Holcim’s $1 billion facility will employ 250 workers and produce about 4 million metric tons of cement each year. It will become the second Holcim plant in Missouri. Among the new employees are Frank Essner and Travis Goode of Cape Girardeau, Michael Flores and Tony Prince of Jackson, Greg Jenkins, Charles Marler, Jason Pohlman, Josh Ponder, Anthony Warren, James Young and Michael Martin of Perryville.

Local business merges with a Kentucky firm

Cape Electrical Supply has acquired Electrical Sales Engineering, a utility products distributor based in Bowling Green, Ky.

The deal allows the company, headquartered at 489 Kell Farm Dr. in Cape Giraradeau, to position itself for growth in the segment of the electrical industry, according to Bob Garrett, Cape Electrical Supply vice president of sales.

Adding a company with the strength of Electrical Sales Engineering to the business will make it a more well rounded supplier, said Allen Toole, Cape Electrical Supply president. "We are very bullish about the prospects for the electrical utility industry over the next several years. Combining with ESE positions Cape Electric for growth in this segment of the electrical industry," he said.

The acquisition increases the company’s total workforce to 175 among Cape Electrical Supply’s 18 locations.

Workforce Employment Solutions receives national award

As with many regional companies, a slowing economy has been a challenge for Workforce Employment Solutions over the past year, but it was a challenge that was recognized as successful as Staffing Industry Analysts’ Inc. once again named Workforce as one of the fastest growing staffing firms in the United States. To qualify for this honor a company must average a minimum of 25 percent annual growth for the past five years.  

"We view this award as a tribute to our staff, the companies we represent, our candidates, and the communities that have supported what we do through the years and made this continued growth possible," says Marlene Brockmiller, President of Workforce Employment Solutions.

In addition to industrial staffing, Workforce also serves the administrative/clerical needs of hundreds of companies with their Office Professional Staffing Division, and has produced a regional wage and benefit survey for the past 12 years as a service to the communities they serve.

Store nets spirit award

SIKESTON, Mo. — Save-A-Lot, located at 621 S. Main in Sikeston, was recognized by the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce as the July Spirit Award Business of the Month.

Computer company has ribbon-cutting

SIKESTON, Mo. — Computer 21 LLC recently held the grand opening ribbon cutting for its Sikeston satellite location. The store, located at 303 S. Main in Sikeston, is an authorized dealer for Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, as well as Dell and custom PC sales. The location carries other phone and computer accessories and offers repair services on all model PCs, plus technical assistance with laser printers, VOIP phone systems, voice mail, Web site design, TiVo repairs and upgrades and building cabling. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Ronnie James is the store manager.

Jackson company opens new division

Three months have passed since Kinder Motor Co., 2856 Sappington Drive in Jackson, opened its new commercial vehicle division, and business has increased every month. Owner David Kinder said the new service will allow businesses that have company vehicles to get the most bang for their buck. Kinder said his company can handle the transactions, including marketing, selling and mailing the check to the customer once the vehicle is sold.

Phenom Gymnastics: Jumping right in

SIKESTON, Mo. — Phenom Gymnastics is owned by Eric Miller and Kelly Kirby. The two will continue to offer recreational gymnastics, competitive gymnastics and competitive cheerleading, but will also expand its preschool program and added a trampoline and tumbling program.

"We are buying Sikeston Gymnastics from Jamie Rodgers and are very excited about promoting the sport of gymnastics in Sikeston," said Miller.

The owners said those additions will give a bit more variety, as well as make Phenom Gymnastics a place where boys can come to learn the sport of gymnastics, too.

Classes are offered for children as young as 18 months.

Other special programs and options are available in addition to the regular classes, including birthday parties, open gym and Parents Night Out. PNOs are held the first Friday of the month and include gymnastics, movies, games and other activities.

Kirby has a background in gymnastics and dance, as well as several other sports. She has worked for different gymnastics facilities across the Midwest, offering everything from preschool to elite gymnastics. She has worked with athletes of all ages and skill levels. Her forte is to teach compulsory level gymnastics. Kirby graduated with a degree in athletic training from Ball State University.

Miller has a trampoline and tumbling background. Like women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling is a gymnastics discipline and has been an Olympic sport since 2000.

He has been involved in the sport as an athlete, coach and judge. As an athlete, Miller has won national medals on trampoline and was an elite athlete; as a coach, he has had nine national champions and numerous national medalists. He is also a brevet-level judge on trampoline and can train judges on all events.