BUSINESS PERSONNEL

Karen Stevens, a registered massage therapist, recently joined the staff of New Hope Counseling, 1221 Kingshighway.

Owner Ruth Ann Ford said her counseling center focuses on Christian counseling and works to heal the body, soul and spirit. Massage therapy is part of the total package or may be reserved by the hour.

Stevens took 300 hours of training at Massage Resources in Dallas to be certified in Texas. Her continuing education has included classes on myo-fascial release.

She will be working at New Hope on Mondays and Wednesdays. The number is 334-4499.

Suzanne Dufek, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, has been elected president of the Missouri Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA).

Dufek, who is affiliated with Anesthesia Associates, has practiced at Southeast Missouri Hospital since 1988 and will be honored during a reception at the hospital on Nov. 19, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Dufek earned her bachelor's degree in nursing in 1982 from Mount Marty College in Yankton, S.D., and her bachelor's degree in anesthesia in 1994 at the same college.

Prior to coming to Southeast, she worked at St. Francis Medical Center with Cape Anesthesia Group.

Dufek previously served as vice president and regional director of the MANA. She also has affiliations with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Missouri Nurses Association.

The MANA, in its 60th year, has more than 700 members. Its purpose is to offer members continuing educational opportunities and to monitor legislation to help assure the safety of the public in the area of anesthesia administration.

Nurse anesthetists administer more than 65 percent of the 26 million anesthetics given to patients each year.

Timothy C. Gleason of Cape Girardeau has been appointed district manager of Browning-Ferris Industries' (BFI) Southern Illinois district.

Gleason, most recently operations manager of BFI's Evansville, Ind., district, will be responsible for the overall direction and development of the Southern Illinois area. He is a St. Louis native and a graduate of Xavier University of Cincinnati.

BFI, a Fortune 500 company, is one of the world's largest publicly held corporations offering materials management and environmental services. The primary business of BFI is collecting, processing and disposing of waste. BFI, headquartered in Houston, has 670 locations, including the Heartland Division, which covers a total of seven districts.

Darrell McIntyre has joined Pedler's Corner Furniture and Stuff, 701 Broadway, as store manager.

McIntyre has more than eight years experience in dealing with used furniture and other items. He operated his own store on South Sprigg three years.

Peddler's Corner opened in May 1992.

L.R. Brandes, who has been selling furniture for more than four years as an auctioneer, is owner of the retail outlet.

"We've been involved with furniture, antiques and other household items a number of years," said Brandes, who is still in the auctioneer business.

Jodi Montgomery has joined Hair Biz Beauty Salon at 312 Independence in Cape Girardeau.

Montgomery of Cape Girardeau has 14 years experience in the beauty industry and is a graduate of a St. Louis area beauty school.

She is a member of the National Cosmetology Association (NCA), Missouri Education Design Committee (MEDC) and works with the "Look Good, Feel Better" program of the American Cancer Society.

In addition to haircuts and perms, she will perform body piercing.

Montgomery's hours will be Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

David Dannenmueller of Chaffee has joined Van Matre Buick, 511 S. Kingshighway, in Cape Girardeau as salesman.

Dannenmueller has more than eight years experience in sales. He worked for United Oil Co. of Cape Girardeau five years.

Three Southeast Missourians were elected to state positions at the Missouri State Nurses Association Convention in St. Louis recently.

Desma Reno, a nurse specialist at St. Francis Medical Center, was elected vice president; Dr. Louise Hart, chairperson of the Nursing Department at Southeast Missouri State University, was elected to the state group's board of directors; and Sharon Stinson, director of Case Management and Nursing Administrative Services at Southeast Missouri Hospital, was named to the group's state nominating committee.