Names in the news

MODERN WOODMEN HONORS VOLKERDING

Ken Volkerding of Jackson, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was representative of the month for October in the Missouri East Region. He joined the company in October 2004.

DARBY IS ROOKIE OF THE MONTH

Kelly Darby of Jackson, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was rookie of the month for both October and November in the Missouri East Region. The honor is given to a full-time representative who has been with Modern Woodmen for less than three years and is leading the region in production. Darby became full-time with Modern Woodmen in November 2010.

Dawn Dauer

DAUER APPOINTED COMMUNITY BANK PRESIDENT

Dawn E. Dauer was appointed community bank president for The Bank of Missouri in Cape Girardeau, replacing Maurice Sandfort, who will retire at the end of the year. His retirement concludes a 47-year banking career that began in St. Charles, Mo. He has been community bank president at Bank of Missouri since 2005. Dauer has worked at the bank for 14 years.

Maurice Sandfort

SEMO PROFESSOR NAMED TO COURT COMMITTEE

Mary Moore Johnson, a business law professor at Southeast Missouri State University, was appointed to Missouri's Supreme Court Committee on Civic Education. According to a university news release, Moore Johnson will serve on the 18-member committee as its higher education representative. The committee is made up of judges, court staff, representatives from the Missouri Bar, educators and members of the public. Its goal is to enhance public understanding of the state court system and its function, thereby enhancing public trust and confidence in the judicial branch of government, according to the release.

Joshua Hanlon

HANLON JOINS SHOW ME CENTER

Joshua Hanlon is the new marketing director at Southeast Missouri State University's Show Me Center. He was previously a sales manager for Withers Broadcasting and has more than 10 years of experience in sales, management and marketing. He graduated from Southeast in 2002 with a degree in marketing management.

NORDENIA HONORS EMPLOYEES

Elaine Walden, quality assurance technician of Cape Girardeau, was employee of the month for November at Nordenia USA Inc. She has been with Nordenia since April 2008. Nordenia also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Gladys Reid and Daniel Steffens, 20 years of service; and Jason McCormick, 15 years.

Jessica Mobley

MOBLEY NAMED MARKETING DIRECTOR

Jessica Mobley of Jackson was hired as director of marketing by Bill Zellmer, franchise owner of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar in Cape Girardeau and five other locations. She will focus on local store marketing, charity and brand development and any future brand development. Mobley previously served as an executive with the Highway 67 Corp. through the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Her new position includes marketing the other nearby Buffalo Wild Wings in Poplar Bluff, Farmington and Sikeston in Southeast Missouri and Carbondale and Mount Vernon in Southern Illinois.

ROBERTS IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Jon Roberts, education specialist, was employee of the month for November at the Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center, reported the Park Hills Daily Journal.

Travis Tyson

TYSON NAMED BENEFIT SPECIALIST

Travis Tyson of Cape Girardeau joined Swinford & Associates Inc., in affiliation with W.E. Walker-Lakenan LLC in Jackson, as a benefit specialist. He is responsible for group employee benefits, life insurance and Medicare supplement plans.

CEMETERY EMPLOYEE GETS STATE HONOR

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Tammy Smith, cemetery representative and senior office support assistant for the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, was named Missouri Veterans Commission employee of the month for November, reported the Dexter Daily Statesman. Smith was chosen from 1,700 people to receive the honor.

DOBBINS CHAIRS ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast Missouri State University, recently chaired the American Association of State Colleges and Universities annual conference and 50th anniversary gala in Boston. The theme for the Oct. 24 to 26 conference was "Inspired by Five Decades of Service -- Leading Transformational Change." Among the featured presenters was Dr. James Stapleton, executive director of the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast. He presented at a session titled "Leading Entrepreneurial Institutions."

BURGE HONORED FOR 35 YEARS

DEXTER, Mo. -- Jim Burge, communications officer for the Dexter Police Department, was recognized at the Dexter Board of Alderman meeting Nov. 7 for his 35 years of service to the city. Presenting the award were Mayor Joe Weber and police chief Sammy Stone.

ADAMS NAMED TO STATE LEADERSHIP POSITION

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Bob Adams of Doniphan was elected president of the board of directors for the Missouri Assisted Living Association for 2011 to 2012. Adams is owner and administrator of The Colonial Home and Walnut Street Assisted Living facilities in Doniphan. He has been a licensed nursing home administrator for 36 years. He also recently started a senior technology company called First Option.

ESTES NAMED DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Stanley Estes, manager of Ozark Border Electric cooperative in Poplar Bluff, was appointed district representative to the Training and Development Committee of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives in Jefferson City, Mo. He will be responsible for activities relating to improving the professional and technical abilities of electric cooperative employees.

YARBRO APPOINTED TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Mark Yarbro, director of Ozark Border Electric Cooperative in Poplar Bluff, was appointed a district representative to the Executive Committee of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives in Jefferson City, Mo. He will have responsibility for developing the association's annual work plan and budget and monitoring its operating policies.

HENSON NAMED TO COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Robert Henson, an employee at Ozark Border Electric Cooperative in Poplar Bluff, was appointed a district representative to the Regulatory Compliance Committee of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives in Jefferson City, Mo. He will have responsibility for reviewing federal regulations that affect Missouri's electric cooperatives and ensuring that co-ops are informed of regulations.

NEWKIRK LEADS WOODMEN REPS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Phil Newkirk of Poplar Bluff, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was New Member Leader in the Missouri East Region for October. He joined the company in January 1999.

NEW MANAGER AT NEW WAVE FACILITY

DEXTER, Mo. -- Mike Burk was promoted to business sales manager at NewWave Communications-Missouri and Arkansas. He has an extensive background in telecommunications and IT services, most recently as business sales representative in the same region.

Gary Turner

TURNER ATTENDS COLDWELL COURSE

Gary Turner of Coldwell Banker Select Realtors in Cape Girardeau attended Coldwell Banker Connect, a program developed as an orientation for new affiliates of the Coldwell Banker system as well as a refresher of the Coldwell Banker systems and tools for existing affiliates. The seminar was held Oct. 25 to 26 in South Bend, Ind.

HIRTZ JOINS SOUTHERN BANK

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Bill Hirtz was hired as customer service manager at Southern Bank's Vine Street branch in Poplar Bluff.

SMYTHE RETIRES, REPLACEMENT NAMED

Mike Smythe, general manager and vice president of KFVS12 in Cape Girardeau, retired at the end of November. He plans to move to Toledo, Ohio, to live closer to his children and grandchildren. He will also do consulting for television station sales departments. Before Smythe became general manager of KFVS12 in 2001, he served as the station's general sales manager beginning in 1998. He came to Cape Girardeau from a sister station in North Carolina.

Tim Ingram, a longtime television businessman who grew up watching KFVS12, is the new vice president and general manager of the local station, effective Dec. 1. Ingram is general manager for Raycom Media station KAIT, the ABC affiliate in Jonesboro, Ark., and he will serve in both roles until a replacement is found in Jonesboro.

Rick Cuba

CUBAS ATTEND MASTERS PROGRAM

Tyler Cuba

Rick and Tyler Cuba of the Cuba Financial Group and First Allied Securities Inc. in Cape Girardeau attended NextGen University's masters program in Atlanta. Cannon Financial Institute conducted the three-day program for advisers holding the Certified Wealth Strategist designation on the topic of business continuity and business succession planning.

C21 REALTY ANNOUNCES LEADERS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Melba Jean McCoy was top producer for September at Century 21 American Realty, and Natali Ketcherside was top lister. In October, Terri Whitten was top producer and McCoy was top lister.

DETENTION CENTER WORKERS HONORED

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Two employees of the Mississippi County Juvenile Detention Center received national recognition Oct. 16 at the 17th annual National Symposium on Juvenile Services in Indianapolis. Kevin Hess, superintendent of the center, received the Bob Rader Line Staff Award for his efforts in moving the operational concept of the detention facility from basic incarceration to a wide range of educational, life skills and cognitive programming. Linda Moore, a shift supervisor, received the Bob Rader Detention Services Worker Award for her hands-on work each day with juveniles. The Bob Rader awards are presented each year by the National Partnership for Juvenile Services' Council for Juvenile Detention.

Craig Bohnsack

BOHNSACK JOINS ACCION DELTA

Craig Bohnsack is now a Missouri region loan officer for ACCION Texas Inc., a new organization operating locally as ACCION Delta. ACCION Delta is a collaborative effort with Southeast Missouri State University's Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and serves portions of Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The not-for-profit organization provides affordable capital to startups and small businesses that cannot secure funding from the commercial lending market. It is the nation's leading microlender. The loan office is at 920 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, inside the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

JOKERST NAMED STE. GENEVIEVE SUPERINTENDENT

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- The Ste. Genevieve School District selected Shelley C. Jokerst as superintendent of the district effective July 1, reported the Park Hills Daily Journal. Jokerst has been assistant superintendent in the district for 10 years and previously served as principal at Bernie High School and English teacher at Perryville High School.

IVIE RETIRES FROM FARM SERVICE AGENCY

KENNETT, Mo. -- Aaron Ivie, county executive director of the Farm Service Agency in Kennett, retired Nov. 30 after 30 years of service with the agency.

Curt Buchheit

BUCHHEIT NAMED CAPE ELECTRICAL CFO

Curt Buchheit was named chief financial officer at Cape Electrical Supply. He has financial and business experience with a background in public accounting and manufacturing. A certified public accountant and native of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Buchheit was previously vice president of finance at HAVCO Wood Products in Cape Girardeau. In his new position, he is responsible for all financial reporting, IT and logistics. He replaces John Horgan, who was Cape Electrical's CFO before becoming president in April.

KEMPF ATTENDS HAWAII CONFERENCE

Carolyn Kempf of Elite Travel Inc. represented Cape Girardeau at the second annual Hawaii Travel Exchange in Maui, Hawaii. The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau brought together the top 150 travel agents in the nation to take part in property site inspections and educational sessions. In addition, Kempf was recognized as the top producing agency for Hawaii in Southeast Missouri. Travel agent delegates who attended were prequalified through a strict voting process, including booking history analysis, supplier references and industry qualifiers.

HALL JOINS FIRST COMMERCIAL

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jordan Hall joined First Commercial Bank in Chaffee as a junior loan officer. He will handle all types of agriculture and consumer loans. Hall, a native of Yellville, Ark., is completing training at the bank's Advance, Mo., branch and will begin working in Chaffee after the first of the year.

Poplar bluff CHAMBER HIRES OFFICE MANAGER

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Shannon Eck was hired as office manager at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. She has worked for the chamber for two years and previously worked for seven years at Mississippi River Radio. She began her new duties at the chamber Dec. 5.

HUTSON JOINS FIRST COMMUNITY INSURANCE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Adam B. Hutson joined First Community Insurance Group in Poplar Bluff. His office is inside First Community Bank on North Westwood Boulevard.

KNODELL IS TOP LISTER

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kurt Knodell was top lister and top producer for September at Poplar Bluff Realty Inc.

SWARTWOUT GETS SEMO PRIDE AWARD

Dr. Susan Swartwout, professor of English at Southeast Missouri State University, received the PRIDE Award during December commencement exercises. The Provost's Research, Instruction and Development for Excellence (PRIDE) Award recognizes a faculty member who has shown excellence as a teacher, an extraordinary level of scholarship and service and whose overall accomplishments are noteworthy. Swartwout was selected for the award by the Council of Deans after nominations were solicited from each of the university's colleges and schools. Swartwout, who has worked at Southeast for 15 years, teaches creative writing and literary editing, 20th and 21st century American poetry and fiction and small-press publishing. She also established and is publisher of the Southeast Missouri University Press, the creator and administrator of Southeast's small-press publishing minor and editor for the national, semiannual literary journal "Big Muddy." She is director of internships in English, director of publishing internships and adviser for the student annual literary magazine, "Journey."