Names in the news

__MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

Tammy Merritt of Jackson was employee of the month for July at Mondi Jackson Inc. Merritt, an inside sales representative, has been with the company since September 2010. Mondi Jackson also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Todd Dowdy, 20 years of service; and Alan Westrich and Jeff Schweigert, 15 years.

__COMSTOCK ATTENDS CENTURY 21 ACADEMY__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Stacey Comstock, sales manager of Century 21 Premiere Realty, attended the Century 21 International Management Academy. The weeklong academy is held annually at the brand's corporate headquarters in Madison, New Jersey. It features a strategic overview as well as instruction on the fundamentals of effective real estate brokerage management and how to incorporate the tools and resources available via the Century 21 system.

__BROWN COMPLETES REAL ESTATE EXAM__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kelly Brown completed the Missouri Real Estate Salesperson's examination to receive her salesperson license for the state of Missouri. She is the newest sales associate at Coldwell Banker Professional Associates in Perryville.

__BENSON HIRED AS INTERIM EDITOR__

KENNETT, Mo. -- Meg Benson was hired as interim editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat, effective June 30, the newspaper reported. Benson, a Kennett native, has had a long career in journalism and retail marketing and publicity. She worked most recently as an English and drama teacher at Kennett High School, followed by a position at the Kennett Chamber of Commerce.

__HALTER ATTENDS ECONOMIC CONFERENCE__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, attended the Missouri Economic Development Council's annual conference at Lake Ozark, Missouri, June 10 to 12. While at the conference, Halter met with representatives of site location firms from throughout the U.S. He joined more than 130 of Missouri's professional economic developers and others interested in promoting the expansion and attraction of business and industry in Missouri. The conference theme was "Maximizing Resources through Collaboration."

__KNEIBERT ATTENDS SEMINAR__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ann C. Kneibert, licensed professional counselor and national certified counselor, attended "The Summer Institute 2014: Autism, Developmental Disabilities and DSM-5 Diagnostic Framework" at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

__PERRYVILLE HIRES NEW WASTEWATER SUPER__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Charles McLeod was hired as water/wastewater superintendent for the Perryville Public Works Department, The Republic-Monitor reported. He has a class C water/wastewater treatment license through the state of Missouri and a class three distribution license. He has been employed in the water/wastewater field since 1982. He most recently worked as a well-operator manager for 18 years in the Lincoln County Water District.

__PERRYVILLE CHAMBER HAS NEW DIRECTOR__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Amanda Winschel was hired as executive director of the Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce. She most recently worked for the SEMO Food Bank. Her first day on the new job was July 7.

__RODMAN COMPLETES COMPLIANCE OFFICER COURSE__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Frank Rodman, loan compliance officer at The Bank of Missouri in Perryville, recently completed the Certified Community Bank Compliance Officer Program sponsored by the Independent Community Bankers of America. To earn certification, Rodman completed four ICBA seminars: Developing a Compliance Program, Deposit Compliance, Lending Compliance and Operations Compliance. He also passed a comprehensive exam in each of these compliance areas.

__ISLE OF CAPRI ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT CHANGES__

Isle of Capri Casinos announced the following changes to its management July 10: The position of executive chairman of the board of directors, held by Jim Perry, was eliminated. Perry continues to serve as a member of the board of directors. Robert Goldstein, vice chairman of the board of directors, was named chairman of the board of directors. Additionally, the position of chief strategic officer, held by Eric Hausler, was eliminated, and Hausler has been named Isle of Capri's chief financial officer. Hausler succeeds Dale Black, who served as CFO since 2007 and is leaving Isle of Capri to pursue other interests.

__CITY OF SIKESTON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Detective John Blakely was honored as the Sikeston Department of Public Safety's Employee of the Third Quarter. He has been with the city since 1996. Bill Nance, a leadman in the park division with nearly four decades on the job, was honored as the Department of Public Works Employee of the Third Quarter.

__WHITTEN, HENDERSON LEAD COLDWELL__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Terri Whitten was top lister for June at Coldwell Banker Ruth Holloway Realty Inc., and Vicki Henderson was top producer.

__KNODELL, HUTCHISON TOP P.B. REALTY__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Kurt Knodell was top lister and top producer for April at Poplar Bluff Realty Inc. In May, Knodell was top producer and Rhenda Hutchison was top lister.

__SERVPRO OFFICIALS HONORED__

Sandy and Richard Hastings of Servpro of Cape Girardeau and Scott counties received the Director's Gold Award for outstanding revenue performance. The award was presented at Servpro's annual conference June 24 through 27 in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition, Michael and Michelle Gross, owners of Servpro in Kennett, Missouri, received the President's Bronze Award at the same conference. The honor was given for outstanding revenue performance.

__DEXTER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER EARNS NATIONAL AWARD__

DEXTER, Mo. -- Eric Boles, biology teacher at Dexter High School, was named Outstanding Biology Teacher in Missouri, the Daily Statesman reported. Boles received notification during the last week of the 2013-14 school year that he was chosen for the award by the National Association of Biology Teachers. One teacher is selected for the honor from each of the 50 states. The Missouri award was selected by the University of Missouri Science Teacher Outreach Board. The award will be presented in a ceremony in Cleveland at a date to be announced later.

__KENNETT CHAMBER HIRES NEW DIRECTOR__

KENNETT, Mo. -- The Kennett Chamber of Commerce hired Melissa Combs as its new executive director, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported. She worked most recently as a shift manager at the Kennett Walmart Supercenter.

__TOTTY RESIGNS FROM THREE RIVERS COLLEGE__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. --The Daily American Republic reported that Dr. Angela Totty, vice president of student success at Three Rivers College, submitted her resignation July 17, effective the day it was submitted, according to interim president Dr. Wes Payne. She left for personal reasons, he said. Totty came to Three Rivers in 2012 from Arkansas State University - Beebe. Ann Matthews, director of the Kennett, Missouri, college center, will take over Totty's position, Payne said. Kathy Ballard will serve as the new director of the Kennett center. Ballard has been employed at Three Rivers since 1998. She had been coordinator of disability services since 2009, before which she served as director of career and technical advising and job placement.

ROBINSON CONSTRUCTION ADDS EMPLOYEES

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Robinson Construction Co. recently added four new employees. Jason Watson of Jackson was hired as an estimator. He has 16 years of experience in estimating and managing construction projects and previously worked as an estimator/project manager for a mechanical contracting firm in Missouri. Scott Pieber of St. Louis was hired as a recruiter. He has more than 10 years of experience in management, recruiting and human resources and previously worked as a human resources generalist/recruiting manager for financial management and communications firms, as well as a staffing agency. Katie Cissell of Perryville was hired as a junior recruiter. She previously worked as a human resources intern at TG Missouri and a mortgage loan processor for the Bank of Missouri. Brenda Dodson of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, joined Robinson Construction's Kentucky office as an HR/office assistant. She has nine years of Army active duty and National Guard service, where worked in human resources/administration. She also worked as an HR/office administrator and was co-owner of an environmental drilling company.

__KEMPF NAMED BNI ALL-STAR__

Carolyn Kempf, President of Elite Travel Inc. in Cape Girardeau, received the 2014 BNI All-Star Award. BNI is a group of business owners who help each other become more successful by lending a helping hand if needed and by pushing one another to go for gold, according to a news release. The All-Star Award is presented after peer voting.

ADMINISTRATORS MOVE UP AT SOUTHEAST

Bruce Skinner and Kendra Skinner (no relation) will be filling new roles this year at Southeast Missouri State University. Formerly assistant vice president for student success and director of residence life, Bruce Skinner is now assistant vice president for student success and auxiliary services. Kendra Skinner, who was associate director of residence life, has taken on the director's spot. The positions are the result of a reorganization of existing jobs, resulting in other staff members taking on new or additional roles, Bruce Skinner said. His job now covers much of life outside the classroom, from food and health services to the bookstore, textbook rental and Camp Redhawk for incoming students. Kendra Skinner sets direction and policy for on-campus housing, supervises residence life staff, coordinates vending services and central office operations, works closely with Chartwells Dining Services, and with students and other university staff members to administer policies and operational procedures.

__MARY KAY UNIT PRESENTS AWARDS__

The Jana Jateff Unit of Mary Kay Cosmetics recently gave awards to the following individuals: Husband of the Year to Lee Sanchez of Jackson; Miss Go to Chanel Tucker of Cape Girardeau; Miss Enthusiasm to Rhonda Painton of Oran, Missouri; Miss Mary Image to Darla Beggs of Jackson; Most Consistent Performers to LaDonia Beggs and Kay Waller; Rookie of the Year to Donna Sappington of Jackson; Most Improved Consultant to Kelly Elizalde of Cape Girardeau; Queen of Sharing to Gail Sanchez of Jackson; and Top 5 Wholesale Court to Betsy Ferguson, Kim Martin, Gail Sanchez, LaDonia Beggs and Kay Waller. Beggs, Sanchez and Waller will receive a week's stay at a condo in Gulf Shores, Alabama, for consistent performance.

__WESSEL NAMED REGIONAL AGRONOMIST__

Steven Wessel of Chaffee, Missouri, was named the Merchman Seeds' regional agronomist for Southern Illinois and the Missouri Bootheel. Wessel, who graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in agricultural business in 1998 and has been a certified crop consultant since 2002, will continue to serve as the company's area sales manager for the Bootheel.

__PUTZ JOINS AMERICAN HOMES__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Michelle Putz joined the sales team at American Homes Realty. She is from Jackson and is relocating to Perryville.

__BAUMANS ATTEND NATIONAL CONVENTION__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Larry and Dottie Bauman of Bauman Wood Heating attended the 2014 Central Boiler National Dealer Convention June 12 to 13 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The convention celebrates the dedication and hard work of Central Boiler dealers and provides the opportunity for them to learn and network.

__SIX COMPLETE JUMP START PROGRAM__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Six local entrepreneurs completed "Operation JumpStart: First Step," a five-week course that teaches individuals essential business planning and preparation skills with practical hands-on training. At the end of the program, participants compete for grant money to help fund their startup businesses. The recent program was hosted by the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Participants included Matt Joachim, Zach Clark, Jason Kauffman, Andrea LaTrasse, Linda Emmons and Robert Hillemann.

GAITHER ACCEPTS STATE BOARD POSITION

Murielle Gaither, executive director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, accepted a board position with The Best of Missouri Hands, a statewide not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development of Missouri artists and artisans. Members strive to educate on all levels and raise public awareness of and interest in handmade visual arts. As a board member, Gaither will represent the interests of artisans and art agencies in Southeast Missouri and work with the organization's executive director to ensure that its mission is acted out in the region.

__HAND JOINS ARTS COUNCIL BOARD__

Dr. Joni Hand of Cape Girardeau is a new board member for the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Hand received her Ph.D. from the City University of New York Graduate Center in 2010. She also has a master's degree in art history from Hunter College in New York, a master's degree in painting from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and a bachelor's degree in graphic design from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Her research focuses on illuminated manuscripts from Northern Europe and female patronage in the late-Medieval period. Her book, "Women, Manuscripts and Identity in Northern Europe, 1350-1550," was published in February 2013.

__HOCH JOINS PERRYVILLE OVERHEAD DOOR__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Kevin Hoch joined Perryville Overhead Door as senior district sales manager.