Names in the news

__KASTEN GETS VENDOR AWARD__ Vernon L. Kasten Jr., CEO of Ceramo Company Inc., attended the 2011 Home & Garden Showplace Show on Sept. 25 in Philadelphia, where Ceramo was named the 2011 Home & Garden Showplace New Vendor of the Year.

__FARRIS GETS BURROWS AWARD__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- John Farris, manager of M&A Electric Power Cooperative, received the A.C. Burrows Award from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives at its annual meeting Oct. 7 in St. Louis. The award recognizes directors and employees of electric cooperatives for outstanding service to their cooperative, community and service areas. Winners are chosen for leadership above and beyond the call of duty to strengthen and improve the economic and social conditions in their areas.

Katie Cole

__COLE JOINS WELLS FARGO__ Katie Cole was hired as a home mortgage consultant at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Cape Girardeau.

__KRUSE GETS MR. CO-OP AWARD__ DEXTER, Mo. -- Charles Kruse, retired president of the Missouri Farm Bureau and a farmer from Dexter, received the Mr. Co-op Award during an Oct. 7 meeting of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. The award is presented to those active in rural electrification in the state.

__WRIGHT JOINS QUALITY CHOICE__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Tom Wright returned to his post at Quality Choice Hearing Aid Center in August. He has been a state-licensed hearing instrument specialist since 2007.

__ROBISON JOINS SMITH & CO.__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Bill Robison of Bloomfield, Mo., joined Smith & Co. as director of communications and client relations. He previously worked with the Missouri Department of Transportation for 20 years.

__MEYER JOINS SB&T BOARD__ Thomas M. Meyer of Cape Girardeau joined the Security Bank & Trust board of directors. Meyer is a second-generation real estate agent with experience in residential and commercial real estate and land development.

__NORDENIA HONORS EMPLOYEES__ Quyen Nguyen, a conversion operator of Sikeston, Mo., was employee of the month for October at Nordenia USA Inc. Nugyen has been with the company since May 2005. Nordenia also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Stephen Wright, 20 years of service; Curtis Froemsdorf, 15 years; and Michael Ponder, five years.

Tracy Jones

__JONES JOINS BIG RIVER__ Tracy Jones joined Big River Broadband as an accountant. Jones, of Farmington, Mo., will be based in the old firehouse in Farmington once renovations are completed.

__KAVAN HONORED BY DEPT. OF CONSERVATION__ EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Tim Kavan of East Prairie, a private lands conservationist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, was named MDC's Private Lands Services Division employee of the year for 2010. Kavan has worked in the division for four years.

Cody Minks

__MINKS JOINS CITY OF CAPE__ Cody Minks joined the City of Cape Girardeau full time Oct. 10 as a GIS analyst with development services. He previously worked as an intern with the city.

__SPENCER LEADS RE/MAX__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Julie Spencer was top lister and top producer for September at RE/MAX Real Estate Group.

Chelsea Helmes

__HELMES PROMOTED AT CITY OF CAPE__ Chelsea Helmes, part-time personnel coordinator with the City of Cape Girardeau, began processing payroll and benefits full time Oct. 24.

__MCCOY, WHITTEN TOP C21__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Melba Jean McCoy was top lister for August at Century 21 American Realty, and Terri Whitten was top producer.

__BIRK ATTENDS ASSET PROTECTION COURSE__ Kelvin Birk of Birk Law Firm in Cape Girardeau attended a continuing education course titled "Advanced Asset Protection Strategies." The course covered domestic trusts, foreign trusts and using entities such as LLCs and corporations in conjunction with trusts to protect assets. Birk is a lawyer and CPA and devotes a large portion of his practice to estate planning and business law.

Laurie Everett

__EVERETT GETS CHAMBER AWARD__ Laurie Everett, owner of Annie Laurie's Antiques in downtown Cape Girardeau, was honored by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 7 for her entrepreneurial initiative. Everett is a recent graduate of the Operation Main Street: Business Success Series offered by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University. After graduating from the program, Everett submitted an action plan to the CIE for a chance to win a business expansion grant of $1,000. Everett received the funding and a plaque of recognition. She said she plans to use the funds to upgrade her computer network and thus add to her overall competitiveness and increase customer service.

Josh LaMouria

__NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL ADDS TWO__ Joshua James LaMouria and Cole Burton are new financial representatives with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network -- The Hahs Group in Cape Girardeau. Before joining Northwestern Mutual, LaMouria was owner and operator of LaMouria Landscape in Cape Girardeau. He is a native of Millersville. Burton, a native of Anna, Ill., comes to Northwestern Mutual from Major Brands in Cape Girardeau.

Cole Burton

__JATEFF EARNS 17TH MARY KAY CAR__ Jana Jateff, future executive senior sales director with Mary Kay Cosmetics, earned the use of her 17th free car. She has been with Mary Kay for 29 years.

__MISSOURI ENTERPRISE TAPS HUMPHREY__ Missouri Enterprise appointed Russell Humphrey as area business manager responsible for the southeast portion of the state. He is based in the company's Cape Girardeau office. He represents Missouri Enterprise's business and technical assistance services to manufacturing, agricultural and technology-based companies. Most recently, Humphrey worked as a business counselor, helping clients develop business plans and providing business training.

__GERAU ELECTED TO BOARD OF EXECUTIVES__ Brian Gerau, executive director of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, was elected to the board of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri at its annual conference Oct. 5 to 7 in Columbia, Mo. The group was organized to strengthen chamber management throughout the state and promote increased efficiency of management skills by chamber executives. The organization's past president, Tim Arbeiter, vice president of community development for the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, was also recognized at the meeting.

__WEST ATTENDS CONFERENCE__ Joseph West of Joseph West Design Studio in Cape Girardeau attended the 2011 Redken Artist Connection in Orlando, Fla. He participated in innovative education classes focusing on new texturizing services and color techniques. West also received training to improve presentation skills, participated in a workshop in color and texture, and learned about financial success with Michael Cole's Over The Top training.

__WALLIS RETIRES FROM P.B. POLICE DEPARTMENT__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Randy Wallis, chief communications officer with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, retired Oct. 19 after 36 years with the department.

__GRAHAM, SMITH HONORED__ SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dale Graham was the Sikeston Department of Public Works' employee of the fourth quarter. He works in the department's street division. Ryan Smith, a public safety officer, was employee of the fourth quarter in the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

__BANKEN TO RETIRE FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT__ DEXTER, Mo. -- Chief Al Banken will retire from the Dexter Fire Department on Jan. 15 after nearly 48 years with the department.

Rachel Tiehes

__BANK NAMES ASSISTANT VP__ Rachel Tiehes was named assistant vice president and controller for Capaha Bank. She previously worked for Deloith & Touche LLP and Opaa! Food Management.

__SHARP HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP__ SIKESTON, Mo. -- Harry Sharp of Sikeston received the Distinguished Service Award for a Citizen Planner on Oct. 20 from the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association. The award recognizes individuals who contribute to the vitality and preservation of their communities. Sharp, a retired executive with the IBM Corp., is involved in the Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium, the Bootheel Healthy Start program, the Missouri DREAM Initiative, Historic Downtown Sikeston and Sikeston's Vision for Tomorrow program.

__SALON ADDS TWO STYLISTS__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ashley McLane and Michelle Colvin are new stylists at Rick's Hair Fashions in Poplar Bluff.

__CUSHING JOINS BIG RIVER__ Kevin Cushing joined Big River Telephone as an account executive on the sales team. He has more than 30 years of experience selling, implementing and supporting traditional and VoIP solutions.

__WEXLER HORN APPOINTED ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGE__ FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Wendy Wexler Horn of Farmington, St. Francois County prosecuting attorney, as the county's new associate circuit judge. The position became vacant upon the retirement of Thomas L. Ray. Wexler Horn has been county prosecuting attorney since 2001. She previously worked as an attorney in private practice in Farmington.

__HALL COMPLETES COURSE__ CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Joyce Hall of Chaffee, financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, completed Kaplan's "Financial Ethics for the Insurance Professional" course. The course outlines the broad parameters of a life insurance agent's responsibilities to insurers, policy owners and the public.

__SATTLER TAKES NEW ROLE IN PERRY COUNTY__ PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Scott Sattler has been selected as Perry County's chief economic development officer, reported the Southeast Missourian. He previously served as manager of business and industry for the Workforce Investment Board of Southeast Missouri. Sattler replaces Larry Tucker, who left the position in February to work as marketing and business development manager for the city of Wentzville, Mo. Sattler is relocating from Dexter, Mo., to Perryville.

Rex Rust

__RUST ELECTED IPA PRESIDENT__ Rex Rust, co-president of Rust Communications, was elected president of the Inland Press Association at its 126th annual meeting Oct. 17 in Chicago. The association is a not-for-profit corporation owned and controlled by its members, nearly 1,200 newspapers in 50 states of the United States, Canada and Bermuda.

__RICHARDSON APPOINTED TO HOUSE COMMITTEE__ POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- State Rep. Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, will work with a group of his colleagues to investigate cases of waste, fraud and abuse in state government. Richardson was named to the new Interim Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability by House Speaker Steven Tilley, R-Perryville. Richardson said the committee will conduct a thorough investigation and then make policy recommendations that will ensure future instances of waste and abuse do not occur. The committee will be chaired by state Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Western Cole County.

__SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN WINS AWARDS__ The Southeast Missourian received numerous awards at the 2011 Inland Press Association's annual meeting and awards ceremony Oct. 17. In the competition, the Southeast Missourian competed with other papers with circulation between 10,000 and 25,000 copies. Staff writers Scott Moyers, Melissa Miller, Rebecca Rolwing, Erin Hevern and M.D. Kittle received first place in explanatory reporting for "Flood of 2011." Miller, Moyers and Kittle received second in investigative reporting for "State pulls $2 million in funding from dental and vision co-op." Kittle took first in personality/individual profile stories for "A soldier named Lucky: The war at home." The Southeast Missourian took second in the front-page competition for its flood coverage issues. The newspaper received honorable mention for the Editorial Excellence Award for "County salaries" and other editorials on a variety of local topics. Staff photographer Kristen Eberts received honorable mention in the sports photography category for "Winning Run."

__BRUNS APPOINTED INTERIM DEAN__ Dr. Diana Bruns, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology and professor of criminal justice and sociology at Southeast Missouri State University, was appointed interim dean of Southeast's College of Health and Human Services, effective Jan. 4. Bruns will replace Dr. Loretta Prater, who is retiring at the end of the semester. Bruns will serve as interim dean until a permanent dean is selected, probably around July 1. An announcement is forthcoming concerning an interim chair to succeed Bruns in the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology.

Paula Miles

__MILES JOINS FOOD BANK BOARD__ Paula Miles of Advance, Mo., began a three-year term on the board of directors of Southeast Missouri Food Bank. Miles became familiar with the organization through her involvement with the Mobile Food Pantry Program. In addition to her work with the food bank, Miles volunteers for Advance School's PTO, LaCroix United Methodist Church and Advance Youth League.

__GIRARDOT CHAPTER ATTENDS CONFERENCE__ Five members of the International Association of Administrative Professionals Girardot Chapter attended the Women Aware Conference on Sept. 15 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The conference theme was "Taking On the Big Apple: The Core Values of Life." Girardot attendees were Marge Philips, Laura Henson, Michelle Overbeck, Chris Waite and Doris Dumey. Dumey, president of the Girardot Chapter, gave a presentation at the conference titled "What's on your Bucket List?"

__BARRIOS NAMED EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR__ Dr. Frank Barrios, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Southeast Missouri State University, was selected as the 2011 Executive of the Year for the Girardot Chapter of International Association of Administrative Professionals at its annual Executive Recognition Banquet on Oct. 18. Barrios is a clinical psychologist holding a doctoral degree from the University of Cincinnati. He currently manages 10 departments, five centers and more than 150 faculty, professional staff and administrative personnel.