Names in the news

MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES

Shannon Schumer of Kelso, Mo., was employee of the month for December at Mondi Jackson Inc. Schumer, a multicraft technician, has been with the company since Oct. 25, 2004. Mondi Jackson also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Brian Hagan, Randall Seabaugh and Johnny Wrinkle, 15 years of service; and William Langhout, five years of service.

Dr. James Stapleton

STAPLETON RECEIVES PRIDE AWARD

Dr. James Stapleton, executive director of the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and associate professor of entrepreneurship in the Donald L. Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University, received the PRIDE Award during fall commencement exercises Dec. 15. The Provost's Research, Instruction and Development for Excellence (PRIDE) Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence as a teacher, an extraordinary level of scholarship and service and whose overall accomplishments are especially noteworthy. Stapleton was selected for the award by the Council of Deans after nominations were solicited from each of the university's colleges and schools. The recipient of the award is honored for exemplifying the teacher/scholar model. This is the 17th year Southeast has presented the PRIDE Award. In addition to receiving the PRIDE Award, Stapleton served as the grand marshal at commencement exercises and presented the address at the Honors Convocation before commencement exercises.

Susan Glasgow Lawrence

SIKESTON CHAMBER NAMES NEW DIRECTOR

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Susan Glasgow Lawrence was hired as executive director of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, effective Dec. 1, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. She has served as interim executive director for the past six months and came from Mid-South Economic Development before that. She replaces Missy Marshall, who left the position after 11 years for a new role with Three Rivers College.

TAYLOR, WHITTEN LEAD C21

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

KENNETT HAS NEW POLICE CHIEF

KENNETT, Mo. -- Jim Paine was sworn in Nov. 28 as chief of police in Kennett, reported the Daily Dunklin Democrat. Paine has worked in law enforcement and public safety for 43 years and comes to the Kennett Police Department from Kaysville, Utah.

PERRY COUNTY HIRES NEW SUPERINTENDENT

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perry County School Board voted to offer a three-year contract to Scott Ireland as superintendent of the Perry County School District. Ireland accepted the offer. Ireland, currently superintendent of the Pleasant Hope School District in Pleasant Hope, Mo., was one of three finalists presented at the district staff meeting in December. His new duties begin July 1. He will replace Kevin Dunn, who is retiring after six years in the position.

Justin Keen

Brandon Bledsoe

KEEN, BLEDSOE JOIN CAPAHA BANK

Justin Keen of Jackson joined Capaha Bank as vice president and commercial lender. He has eight years of experience as a lender and assistant to the vice president. Brandon Bledsoe joined the bank as an agricultural lender in Southern Illinois. He is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in agribusiness.

BOARD OF REALTORS INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS

The Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors installed new officers Nov. 30 at its 60th anniversary banquet. The following real estate agents were installed: board president Elizabeth McFerron of Exit Realty-Thomas Meyer Associates, vice president Tina McMahon of McClanahan Real Estate, secretary Katherine Devor of Coldwell Banker Abernathy Realty, treasurer Kenneth Kiefer of Realty Executives of Cape County, local directors Liz Lockhart of River Bend Realty and Wendy Marberry of Realty Executives of Cape County, state directors Wanda Duncan of Realty Executives of Cape County, Debbie Thurman of Coldwell Banker Abernathy Realty and David E. Soto Sr. of SOTO Property Solutions.

Also installed were the 2013 Multiple Listing Service officers and directors: president Patricia Main of Realty Executives of Cape County, vice president Rick Sinclair of Century 21 Ashland Realty, secretary and treasurer Lori Wibbenmeyer of Preferred Realty, directors Wanda Duncan of Realty Executives of Cape County, Ricky Ing of Prudential Bridgeport and Rebecca Buehler of Realty Executives of Cape County.

Thomas L. Meyer also was recognized as the longest licensed practicing real estate agent in Missouri.

CALL ACHIEVES MASTER CERTIFICATION

Don Call, a board of education member in the Cape Girardeau Public School District, achieved Master Certification in the Missouri School Boards' Association Certified Board Member program. All newly elected school board members must complete a 16-hour program required by state law. Master Certification is the higher of two levels available. Those achieving Master Certification must accumulate at least 40 hours of CBM credit, read four books related to school board service, attend at least two MSBA meetings within the year and write an essay that connects the subjects they have studied to the school district they serve.

BROWN RECOGNIZED BY INSURANCE SOCIETY

KENNETT, Mo. -- Charlie Brown of Baker Welman Brown Insurance was honored for his ongoing pledge to education, commitment to excellence and dedication to the insurance profession. The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors presented Brown with a certificate for his continued participation in the CIC program. Earning his CIC designation and maintaining all updated requirements for 20 years places Brown in the top 1 percent of all insurance professionals in the country.

FOLLIS APPOINTED TO STATE BOARD

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Collin L. Follis of Fredericktown, Mo., to the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. The board is responsible for licensing embalmers, funeral directors and funeral establishments; registering pre-need providers and sellers; and regulating these professions in accordance with state law. Follis is a licensed embalmer, funeral director and pre-need agent, as well as the recently elected coroner of Madison County. He works at the funeral home founded in Fredericktown by his father, Follis and Sons Funeral Home. Follis also works on the seventh-generation family cattle farm in the area. The governor appointed him for a term ending April 1, 2017.

FREEMAN NAMED FIREMAN OF THE YEAR

DEXTER, Mo. -- Jeremy Freeman was named Dexter Fireman of the Year, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. The title is voted upon annually by all local firemen, recognizing an individual who goes above and beyond and demonstrates extraordinary character while doing so.

LITTLES, STAFFORD LEAD COLDWELL

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Brock Littles was top lister for October at Coldwell Banker and Cathy Stafford was top producer. Additionally, Littles was top lister and top producer for November.

MILLER TOPS RE/MAX

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- JoNell Miller was top producer and top lister for November at RE/MAX Real Estate Group Inc. Julie Spencer was also top lister for November.

P.B. REALTY ANNOUNCES LEADERS

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

CONSERVATION EMPLOYEES HONORED

The Missouri Department of Conservation awarded employees for 25 to 35 years of service at a Dec. 6 ceremony in Jefferson City, Mo. Employees from the Southeast Region who received awards were John Pratt of Poplar Bluff, 35 years of service; Charles Lancaster of Piedmont, 25 years; and Steven Smith of Charleston, 25 years.

CLARK NAMED ADVISER TO SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Cindy Clark of Ellsinore, Mo., was named an adviser to the scholarship committee of Three Rivers Community College Foundation. She will help choose recipients of scholarships and grants administered by the foundation. Clark teaches business courses for Central Methodist University on the Three Rivers campus. The former registrar for Three Rivers, she worked at the community college for more than a decade before leaving that position in 2011.

PRESTIGE SALON ADDS MASSAGE THERAPIST

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kellie Affolder joined Prestige Salon as a massage therapist. She has had advanced training in the field and a background in health care. Some of her specialties include Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal and sports massages.

SCHUESSLER RECEIVES AWARD

Gene Schuessler of Advanced Pest Control of Cape Girardeau received the Dr. Wilbur Enns Man of the Year award from the Missouri Pest Management Association at its annual banquet in Kansas City, Mo. Schuessler was recognized for his time, talent and innovation for the betterment of pest control.

MARY KAY TOP PERFORMERS HONORED

Mary Kay cosmetics honored top performers for the quarter. Gail Sanchez of Cape Girardeau, Anna Reid of Jackson and Jana Jateff all were honored for being top performers.

Lenell Hahn

HAHN NAMED ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR

Lenell Hahn of Cape Girardeau was named director of admissions for Southeast Missouri State University. She formerly served as associate admissions director at Southeast. She earned both a bachelor's and master's of business administration degrees at Southeast.

Catherine Walters

WALTERS RETIRES FROM USDA

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Catherine M. Walters of the USDA Rural Development office in Charleston retired after 41 years of service. She began her career with USDA Rural Development (formerly Farmers Home Administration) in 1971. She has worked with both the single and multifamily housing programs and during the last few years specialized in the community facility programs covering several counties.

Christopher Limbaugh

LIMBAUGH APPOINTED PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Christopher Kirby Limbaugh of Cape Girardeau as the new prosecuting attorney for Cape Girardeau County. The position became vacant after the resignation of former prosecuting attorney Morley Swingle. Limbaugh, a Republican, practices law with The Limbaugh Firm in Cape Girardeau, including both civil and criminal law.

PRIVETT NAMED BOARD OF REGENTS PRESIDENT

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents elected Doyle Privett of Kennett, Mo., as its new president, effective Dec. 31. Privett succeeds Donald "Brad" Bedell, whose term expired Jan. 1. Bedell, president of Maverick Consulting Group of Sikeston, Mo., was elected president of the Board of Regents in December 2006. James Limbaugh of Cape Girardeau will continue to serve as vice president of the board. Privett is a certified public accountant who currently serves as chief financial officer for Kennett National Bank.

MILLER NAMED BERNIE PRINCIPAL

BERNIE, Mo. -- Gavin Miller will fill the role of high school principal in Bernie, beginning this fall. Miller previously served on the Dexter School staff for eight years and has taught and served in administration at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Mo., since 2007. For the past two years, he has served as assistant principal at the Sedalia facility. He will replace Bryce Matthews, who is retiring.

SHAWAN IS NEW EMA CHIEF

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Butler County Commission voted 3-0 on Dec. 21 to hire Jeffrey Shawan as director of the Butler County Emergency Management Agency. Shawan, of Poplar Bluff, is the former owner of Heritage Appraisal Service, which he has sold. Rick Sliger resigned from the EMA director position in September, and Robbie Myers was hired to serve as interim EMA director until Feb. 1. Shawan will start his new role Jan. 15.

PORT AUTHORITY NAMES BOARD OFFICERS

The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority named officers of the board of commissioners for 2013. John M. Thompson of Cape Girardeau County will serve as chairman; Rice "Pete" Burns of Scott County will serve as vice chairman; J. Ronald Fischer of Cape Girardeau County was appointed secretary; Bob Kielhofner of Scott County was appointed treasurer; and outgoing chairman Mark Kluesner of Scott County will continue to serve on the board. Dan Driskell, Kent Puchbauer, Gene Dement and Larry Dowdy will serve as members. Dan Overbey is executive director.

KNUDTSON APPOINTED TO BOARD OF REGENTS

Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Jay Knudtson of Cape Girardeau to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. The six-member board appoints the president of the university, employs faculty and staff and makes budgetary and policy decisions necessary to implement the university's mission. Knudtson is executive vice president, chief lending officer and a bank board director at the First Missouri State Bank. He served as mayor of Cape Girardeau from 2002 to 2010. The governor appointed him for a term ending Jan. 1, 2019.

STEPHENS JOINS SOUTHEAST STAFF

Nathan Stephens, senior coordinator of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia, was named assistant to the president for equity and diversity issues at Southeast Missouri State University, effective Jan. 15. He replaces Jim Cook, director of human resources, who served in the position in an interim capacity. Stephens previously worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri as special projects coordinator. He is currently a doctoral student in educational leadership and policy analysis at the University of Missouri and plans to graduate in December.

VROMAN NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- John Vroman of Fredericktown, Mo., was employee of the month for December at TG Missouri. He has been with the company since Aug. 15, 2011, and currently works in the airbag assembly department.