Names in the news

__NORDENIA HONORS EMPLOYEES__ Thomas VanderFeen, plate finish operator II, was employee of the month for September at Nordenia USA Inc. VanderFeen, of Cape Girardeau, has been with the company since June 2000. Nordenia also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: David Stoll, 20 years of service; and Randy Lichtenegger, five years.

Gina Robinson

__ROBINSON JOINS BOLD__ Gina Robinson joined BOLD Marketing of Cape Girardeau as finance director. She is responsible for managing office activities and maintaining financial records for the company. Robinson is originally from Bloomfield, Mo., and now resides in Perryville, Mo. She was previously an administrative assistant for Eric Scott Leathers and Semco Stone.

Jill Dawson Miller

__HABITAT NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR__ Jill Dawson Miller was hired as executive director of Cape Area Habitat for Humanity. She previously served on Habitat's board of directors and executive committee, and she has experience in fundraising, not-for-profit management and research.

__TEETERS LEADS CHAMBER__ CHARLESTON, Mo. -- As of July 1, Karen Teeters is the new executive director of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce. She replaces Claudia Arrington, who resigned from the job after eight years. Teeters, a Charleston native, worked as an educator for 16 years, and then as city coordinator for Portageville, Mo. She also owns a gift and home decor business.

__HASTINGS JOINS SOUTHERN__ SIKESTON, Mo. -- Don Hastings II joined Southern Bank in Sikeston on Aug. 15 as vice president and loan officer. He has more than 20 years of farming experience and has worked in banking for more than five years.

__KNICKMAN JOINS FIRST STATE BANK__ SIKESTON, Mo. -- Michele Knickman joined First State Bank and Trust's lending team as vice president of secondary market lending.

__ALL COMPLETES KAPLAN COURSE__ CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Joyce Hall, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, completed Kaplan Financial's Basic I and Ethics for the Insurance Professional course. The course outlined the parameters of a life insurance agent's ethical responsibilities and detailed the responsibilities to insurers, policy owners and the public. Hall has worked with Modern Woodmen since June 2011. Additionally, Hall received an award from regional director Randy Rainwater for her excellence in life insurance sales.

__WETHINGTON TO MANAGE DEXTER IMPLEMENT__ DEXTER, Mo. -- Drew Wethington is the new location manager at Dexter Implement Co., effective Sept. 1. Wethington, a Dexter native, previously worked with John Deere Co., most recently as product manager-cotton marketing in Ankeny, Iowa.

__WIRSIG IS NEW LAND SPECIALIST__ Brandon Wirsig began duties Aug. 1 as a private lands conservationist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He is working in Butler, Dunklin and Stoddard counties to help landowners meet their land management objectives in ways that enhance fish, forest and wildlife conservation. Wirsig previously worked as a resource aid for the MDC, a wildlife technician for Total Resource Management and a district technician for the Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District.

__BIG RIVER SHIFTS POSITIONS__ Dan Querry joined Big River Telephone as a database administrator, and Lauren Dirnberger was promoted to marketing associate. Dirnberger started with Big River in 2007 and has been on both the front office and customer experience teams. Charlie Wallgren, who started in 2010, was promoted to lead systems architect, and Lauren Williams was promoted to business process analyst and technical writer. Williams joined Big River in 2008, first working with the provisioning team.

Carolyn Kempf

__KEMPF NAMED TO TOP 25__ Carolyn Kempf, owner of Elite Travel in Cape Girardeau, was named one of the Top 25 Travel Advisors of 2011 in an article published in the Aug. 22 issue of Travel Agent Magazine. Kempf who specializes in destination weddings and trips to Mexico and the Caribbean.

__RAY IS FAMILY EDUCATION SPECIALIST__ KENNETT, Mo. -- Don Ray is the new family financial education specialist with the Dunklin County University of Missouri Extension Council. He is headquartered at the Dunklin County office, where he will oversee approximately seven counties in Southeast Missouri. Ray previously worked as a full-time faculty member at Arkansas State University, chief financial officer for the Cities of Jonesboro and Blytheville, Ark., and an auditor for the state of Arkansas. He is a certified public accountant and has owned an auditing firm for 11 years.

__ROBERTS JOINS CPA FIRM__ FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Roy M. Roberts joined the accounting firm of Wayne Linnenbringer in Farmington. Roberts has practiced public and private accounting in southern Missouri since 1974.

__ACADEMY HIRES DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR__ SIKESTON, Mo. -- Larry Pelfrey is the new development director at The Christian Academy. He relocated to Sikeston from Berea, Ky., and assumed his new role Sept. 12. He brings 15 years of experience with major gifts, planned giving, grant writing, event planning and recruitment, all in the education sector.

__THIELE TO RETIRE FROM BLOOMFIELD SCHOOL__ BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Dr. Nicholas Thiele, superintendent of the Bloomfield School District, will retire June 30, reported the Dexter Daily Statesman. Thiele said he will work with the school board to develop a plan to find a new superintendent.

John Jordan

__SHERIFF TO HEAD STATE ASSOCIATION__ Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan has taken the reins of the Missouri Sheriffs' Association and hopes to get legislation passed that would ensure better pay for sheriffs, better 911 response services and the widespread use of video technology for arraignments and hearings, reported the Southeast Missourian. Jordan was sworn in as the association's president in August and will serve a yearlong term that will take him all over state to visit other county sheriffs to discuss issues they face. The main issue Jordan hopes to tackle is funding for better 911 services on cellphones. Missouri is one of two states that is unable to locate people in need by their cellphone signal, Jordan said.

__NIXON APPOINTS ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER__ STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Randal J. Bahr of Ste. Genevieve as the new first district associate commissioner for Ste. Genevieve County. The position became vacant after Nixon appointed Garry Nelson to the position of presiding commissioner. Bahr has worked at Mississippi Lime Co. since 1974 and has also operated and managed a family farm since that time.

__LITTLES PROMOTED TO MARKETING OFFICER__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Julie A. Littles was promoted to marketing officer for First Community Bank, effective Sept. 1. She previously worked in loan administration and as a loan officer for the bank.

Charles Glueck

__GLUECK JOINS BANK OF MISSOURI__ The Bank of Missouri appointed Charles "Charlie" Glueck of Jackson as a community bank advisory director for Cape Girardeau County. His duties officially began in October. Glueck is the owner and operator of Jackson Tire Center, a family-owned business that opened in 1980.

__HILLIS NAMED GENERAL MANAGER__ SIKESTON, Mo. -- Curt Hillis of Dexter, Mo., is the new general manager of Sikeston Ford-Lincoln. He started working in the car business in 1993 as a salesman and later became involved in auto finance and insurance. He has worked in sales management for the past 16 years.

__LITTLES IS TOP LISTER__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Brock Littles was top lister for August at Coldwell Banker.

Gary W. Rust

__GARY RUST GETS MISSOURIAN AWARD__ Gary W. Rust, chairman of the board of Rust Communications, was one of 12 to receive The Missourian Award on Sept. 17 in Jefferson City, Mo. Those selected for the award must have made an outstanding contribution to their state or nation in civics, business, arts or politics. Proceeds from the annual event benefit the American Heart Association. A native of Cape Girardeau, Rust turned a small weekly newspaper with less than 1,500 circulation into a media company that today has 50 newspapers in eight states read by more than 1 million people, along with dozens of websites, hundreds of specialty publications and 17 radio stations. Rust previously served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives and once ran for U.S. Congress. Before that, he managed a furniture store with his father and brothers. He was praised for his work with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, the Missouri State Government Review Commission and his private philanthropy. Rust has also been inducted into the Missouri Press Association Newspaper Hall of Fame. He was nominated for the award by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo.

__HORTON NAMED CITY ADMINISTRATOR__ CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Lee Horton is the new city administrator for Chaffee. He moved into his city hall office Sept. 6. Horton, a Chaffee resident, has worked for the city and the Chaffee Police Department since 2002. His last position was as communications director, computer management director and dispatch supervisor. He is also an adjunct instructor at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center.

__HEDGECORTH APPOINTED PROSECUTING ATTORNEY__ POTOSI, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Joshua Hedgecorth of Potosi as the new prosecuting attorney for Washington County. The position became vacant when former prosecuting attorney John Rupp was named the new drug court commissioner for the 24th Judicial Circuit. Nixon announced the appointment Sept. 15; Hedgecorth's first day as prosecutor has not yet been set. Hedgecorth has served in the Farmington, Mo., office of the Missouri state public defender since 2004. He has handled a variety of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases.

__TWO JOIN LARRY HILLIS__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Jan Hicks and Justin Stewart joined the sales team at the Larry Hillis auto dealership in Poplar Bluff. Hicks has several years of experience in sales, and Stewart previously worked in the construction business.

__MCALLISTER JOINS TASTEFULLY SIMPLE__ Stephanie McAllister of Jackson has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct sales company offering more than 60 easy-to-prepare gourmet foods.

Jan McClanhan

__CAPE REALTORS GET PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS__ Jan McClanahan of Realty Executives of Cape County received Certified Residential Specialists' Woman of the Year Award on Sept. 15 at the Missouri Association of Realtors' fall business conference. She earned the award for her dedication to promoting CRS at the state and national levels while holding the title of regional vice president for the past two years. Also at the conference, Ken Kiefer of Realty Executives received the Henry J. Aydt Memorial Scholarship Award from the Missouri Association of Realtors. The scholarship was used for the continuing education class "Do it right in real estate: Applying ethics in everyday practice."

__MCVEY ELECTED TO MML POST__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff Councilwoman Susan McVey is the new vice president of the Missouri Municipal League. She was elected during the 77th annual MML conference Sept. 13 in Kansas City, Mo. This is the first time in 34 years that someone from Southeast Missouri has been an officer of the organization; a Cape Girardeau City Council member was elected president in 1977. McVey has been a city council member for nearly seven years and was mayor from 2007 to 2009.

Ken Kiefer

__STEPHENSON HONORED AT GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon recognized 13 individual and group successes Sept. 22 at the Governor's Conference on Economic Development in Springfield, Mo. Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, received the Governor's E3 Award -- Excellence in Education, Economic Development and Employment. The award from Missouri's Workforce Development System recognizes innovation and leadership in education, economic development and employment.

Jon K. Rust

__JON RUST TO CHAIR SNA__ Jon K. Rust, Southeast Missourian publisher and co-president of Cape Girardeau-based media company Rust Communications, was elected chairman of the board for Suburban Newspapers of America at its annual meeting Sept. 15 in Phoenix. SNA represents more than 2,100 newspapers with circulation above 22 million in the United States and Canada. SNA is known within the newspaper industry for its focus on media innovation, new media business models and service to local and major marketers. Service on the SNA executive committee is a six-year commitment, and Rust has already served as secretary, treasurer, second vice chairman and first vice chairman of the organization. In addition, Rust has board responsibilities with the affiliated for-profit Suburban Newspapers Inc. and the SNA Foundation. Rust also serves on boards for the Associated Press, where he is chairman of the Technology Committee; Certified Audit of Circulations; and the Missouri Press Association. He is a member of the National Newspaper Association, Inland Press and Publishers Associated to Gain Economy Cooperative vendor evaluation and technology committees.

__YARBRO GETS HONOR SOCIETY AWARD__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Laura Jane Yarbro received the Missouri Association of Realtors Honor Society Award. The award recognizes high professional achievement of members who seek excellence through education and who voluntarily contribute their time and skills to board and association leadership. The award was presented by Brock Littles, president of the Three Rivers Board of Realtors.

__KETCHERSIDE, MCCOY LEAD C21__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Natali Ketcherside was top producer for July at Century 21 American Realty, and Melba Jean McCoy was top lister.

__POPLAR BLUFF REALTORS HONORED__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kurt Knodell was top lister for August at Poplar Bluff Realty Inc., and Karen Sanderson was top producer.

__DARBY EARNS ROOKIE OF THE MONTH__ Kelly Darby of Jackson, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was September rookie of the month in the Missouri East Region. The honor is given to a full-time representative who has been with Modern Woodmen less than a three years and is leading the region in production. Darby began working full-time with the company in November 2010.

__MOSBY NAMED DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION CENTER__ David Mosby was named director of the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and director of the Small Business Technology and Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University. Mosby, who began his new duties Sept. 12, serves under executive director Dr. James Stapleton. Mosby previously served as a lecturer of management and the director of the University of Texas Arlington Small Business Institute. Before that, he was executive adviser to the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence in Bahrain, where he delivered business development programs in Bahrain, Oman, UAE, Yemen, Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. He is also a former small business owner.

__KNODELL IS TOP PRODUCER__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kurt Knodell was top producer for July at Poplar Bluff Realty Inc.

__FINANCIAL REPS ATTEND ACADEMY__ Ashton Phillips, Brandon Pederson and Tyler Stevens of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network -- The Hahs Group in Cape Girardeau, recently attended the 231st Fastrack Academy in Milwaukee. The six-day program, designed for financial representatives who have held a full-time contract for 12 to 59 months, is an interactive forum for an elite group of 49 representatives and aims to inspire higher production and professional growth.