Business notebook: Part of media center reflects its patriarch

Students are hard at work inside the Rust Center for Media, which began operating at the beginning of the fall semester. A dedication ceremony and open house took place Friday, showing the public the variety of activities going on inside.

But one space remains relatively undiscussed, though it arguably is the most prominent feature of the building.

The Bullpen made its debut at the Rust Center for Media open house Friday. This bright, windowed space facing Broadway is recognizable by the nine connected screens facing the street and the images along its walls commemorating the life, work and interests of Gary W. Rust.

The entire Rust Center for Media was named as a tribute to him. This space, through its names and imagery, represents his values and interests, his sons said.

Behind The Bullpen, learning happens. A room called "The Gallery," a 6,300-square-foot flexible learning space, sits behind it. Classes are held there. Special guest speakers visit. Soon, a number of video-production studios will be available there.

The dedication and open house of Southeast Missouri State University's new Rust Center for Media took place Friday.Laura Simon

Below it, the university's student newspaper, The Arrow; the student advertising firm, SECreative; and the university's student public-relations firm, Riverfront PR, carry out their operations in the content-creation lab.

The Bullpen, not unlike its namesake, will serve as a gathering space. But instead of pitchers, media students will meet to discuss strategies and gameplans. And the community at large will have the opportunity to meet there.

Its name serves as a tribute to Gary Rust Sr.'s passions: for baseball. For community. For sharing.

"The name harks back to an open space, a working space, where good ideas can be shared," said Gary Rust Jr., director of rustmedia.

But it also represents his passion for sports and the educational opportunities they provided.

"Sports served as lessons for him about the meritocratic values important to leadership and successful work, which he used as touchstones to teach all around him," Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications, said at the open house.

The room eventually will be available for rent for receptions and gatherings. The large screens on the wall work individually or in concert, so presentations can be viewed, conversations can be had and, perhaps, sporting events can be watched. The possibilities, the Rusts said, are great.

"We are open to ideas, in terms of how people might consider its use and presence in the community," Gary Rust Jr. said.

"We hope that the space will foster curiosity, promote learning, encourage laughter and build strong relationships," Rex Rust, co-president of Rust Communications, said in an email.

"It is designed for smart thinking. Creative ideas that challenge the mind," Gary Rust Jr. said at Friday's open house. "And again, appropriately dedicated to a man who loves this community with a passion."

Manufacturing Day for students is Tuesday

Nearly 200 eighth- and ninth-grade students from area schools will come together Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center to explore their options in the field of manufacturing at an event celebrating Manufacturing Day 2016.

After the students complete their exploratory tour of the industry, the event will be open to community members interested in the manufacturing businesses in Cape Girardeau as a possible career choice or general curiosity.

Participating businesses include Buzzi Unicem USA, Havco Wood Products, Link Electronics, Mondi Jackson, Major Custom Cable, Rubbermaid, Schaefer's Electrical Enclosures Inc. and Signature Packaging & Paper.

Perry County landlords group formed

Earlier this month, 20 investment-property owners voted to form the Perry County Landlords Association and to elect board members and officers.

Members of this association will work with the Perry County Health Department, public-works director and aldermen to insure clean and safe living conditions for all tenants in Perry County.

Those interested in joining the association should contact the Perry County Landlords Association president Pam Muench at (573) 547-9231.

Assistant director of Career Center honored

Dr. Libby Guilliams, assistant director for postsecondary education at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, was awarded the Missouri Council of Career and Technical Administrators' Assistant Director Administrator of the Year award Oct. 3 at the group's conference in Columbia, Missouri.

She was honored for her years of service in career and technical education, according to the center's Facebook post.

She has served as a math instructor, guidance counselor, director of student services and in her current role, where she "supervises student programming, manages program requirements, regulations and partnerships and also provides valuable feedback and oversight with the construction of our growing campus."

Area financial rep lauded for September

Kelly Darby

Kelly Darby of Jackson, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial since 2010, was selected as Life Leader in the Missouri East Region for September.

Business licenses

• Something Bout That Chick'n, Charleston, Missouri, is a mobile food truck owned by Joyce Jones. The food truck's anticipated start date in Cape Girardeau was Sept. 19.
• Walker Brother's Express is a home-based delivery service owned by Bryan D. Walker. The business began operating Oct. 3.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630