BUSINESS PERSONNEL

Mike McKinnis has joined McDowell Ford-Pontiac-Buick as a sales associate.

McKinnis of Cape Girardeau has more than 12 years of experience in automotive retail sales.

He will be at McDowell's Perryville dealership until McDowell South opens along Highway 61 between Cape Girardeau and Jackson in mid-July.

Anthony Twidwell of Cape Girardeau has been named director at Metro Business College, 1732 N. Kingshighway.

Twidwell, a 1993 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor of science in secondary education, taught at Meadow Heights High School in Patton prior to accepting his present position.

Twidwell was named "Teacher of the Year" at Meadow Heights in 1996.

William L. Syler has been elected president of the Cape Girardeau County Bar Association.

Other officers include James A. Cochrane III, vice president; Paul Berens, secretary; and Michael A. Price, treasurer.

A.M. Spradling III is outgoing president.

Paul O. Burgess and Gary Hancock have joined the sales staff of Main Street Chrysler in Sikeston.

Burgess is a certified sales consultant with more than 15 months experience in sales, and Hancock has been in auto sales more than a year.

Dr. Kenneth C. Detring and Eye Care Center of Jackson staff members Cheryl Cook and Sarah Fadler have attended the National American Optometric Associations's 100th year convention at St. Louis.

Optometrists from throughout the United States attended the meeting, which included sessions on business, continuing education and an exhibit hall of the latest ophthalmic equipment.

Detring attended lectures on the latest procedures for evaluating and treating glaucoma and sport vision.

Alison Hermann of Cape Girardeau is the winner of a DSS Satellite System, presented by Toyota-Suzuki, 835 S. Kingshighway, during a special sales promotion.

She received her prize from Vernon Heid, general sales manager.

Tim Singleton, broker with Re/Max United Realty in Cape Girardeau, has received the accredited buyer representative designation from the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council of the National Association of Realtors.

Requirements for the designation include a two-day course on buyer representation, written exam on legal and practical aspects of agency and practical experience in the field of buyer representation.

Singleton is president of the Cape Girardeau Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

Realtor awards

Five realtors have been honored by the Missouri Association of Realtors for achieving the Pinnacle Award of Excellence.

The Pinnacle Award of Excellence is presented to realtors who achieved sales volume of more than $5 million in 1996 and is the highest award given by the MAR.

Receiving the award were Doris Jean Arnold, Birdie Rader and Ivan L. Irvin, all of Century 21 Key Realty; Louisa M. Abernathy of Coldwell Banker Hamilton Realty; and Thomas J. Kelsey, Lorimont Place Ltd.

Sixteen realtors were honored by the MAR for the summit level, presented to realtors who achieved sales volume of more than $2 million in 1966.

Receiving summit level recognition were:

Kim A. Baker, Town & Country Realty; Jane K. Clark and Shirley Gregory, Century 21 Key Realty; Janet Dalton and Ricki Ing, Prudential Bridgeport, Realtors; Marcia Edwards and Betty Lou Vogel, Capitol Hill Realty; Martha Hamilton and Shirley Jo Huey, Coldwell Banker Hamilton Realty; Cheryl Huffman, Dana Leming, Karla Marquart, Kathy Trentham and Gary Turner, Century 21 Ashland Realty; Keith L. Monia, Keith L. Monia, Realtors; Larry Underwood, ERA Cape Realty.

Trudy Brandt, Century 21 Key Realty, and Terri Penrod, Coldwell Banker Hamilton Realty, have been named "Rookies of the Year" by the Cape Girardeau Board of Realtors, for achieving more than $1 million in volume during their first full year in the business.

During the recent award meeting, three realtors were named to the Life Membership in the Million Dollar Club for million-dollar volume three consecutive years. Realtors honored were: George Callis, Coldwell Banker Hamilton Realty; Jo Duff and Marcia Schlueter, both of Prudential Bridgeport Realty.

Birdie Rader was top producer of the year, with production of $6,988,450.

Three realtors were named to the MAR "Honor Society," for high professional achievement through education land who voluntarily contribute their time and skills to MAR and Board of Realtors leadership.

Named to the Society were: Martha Hamilton and Schirley Huey, Coldwell Banker Hamilton Realty and Thomas M. Meyer, Thomas L. Meyer Realtors.