Names in the news

__MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

David DeRousse of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, was employee of the month for August at Mondi Jackson Inc. DeRousse, a plate finisher operator, has been with the company since Oct. 10, 2000. Mondi Jackson also recognized James Beard and Robert Dirnberger for 10 years of service.

__DAMERON JOINS U.S. BANK__

The Cape Girardeau branch of U.S. Bank named Cassy Dameron branch manager of its office at 3060 William St. in Cape Girardeau. Dameron, before joining the financial services industry in 2007, was a small-business owner. She lives in Jackson.

__HUEY, WILLIAMS EARN COMMUNITY ACTION CREDENTIAL__

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Cindy Huey, children's services director at Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation, and Paul Williams, fiscal contract specialist with the organization, recently became Certified Community Action Professionals. The national credentialing program is for community action managers and leaders who work to help low-income people achieve economic stability. The CCAP program is administered by the Community Action Partnership in Washington, D.C.

__GARRETT AWARDED CDA CREDENTIAL__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Shannon Garrett of Sikeston was awarded a national Child Development Associate Credential from the Council of Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., in recognition of outstanding work with young children. She will begin her third year with Charleston Head Start in the fall.

__THREE RIVERS EMPLOYEE WINS SENIOR AWARD__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Bud Pinner, groundskeeper at Three Rivers College, won the Missouri Outstanding Older Worker of the Year Award for Region 7 for being an exemplary model of service and dedication in senior workers, according to a news release from the college. Pinner was chosen for the award after being nominated by Three Rivers to a pool of candidates from across Southeast Missouri. The winners from each region will attend a special award luncheon in Jefferson City, Missouri, hosted by Gov. Jay Nixon. Candidates are nominated by their employers and must be at least 60 years of age and work 20 or more hours a week. The award is sponsored and administrated by AARP, Experiences Work, Catholic Charities of Kansas City and St. Joseph, MERS/Goodwill, the Department of Economic Development, the Division of Workforce Development and the Department of Health and Senior Services.

__JENKINS TO HEAD MINERAL AREA BUSINESS OFFICE__

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The Mineral Area College Board of Trustees hired Rick Jenkins of Farmington, Missouri, to head the business office at the community college, a post held by retired business manager Rusty Straughan until July 1 of this year. Jenkins had served the college as assistant controller/internal auditor since 2009 and has more than 25 years of accounting and finance experience, according to a news release from the college. He previously worked for Mineral Area Regional Medical Center as controller and chief financial officer.

__HENDERSON TOPS COLDWELL__

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

__MYERS NAMED READ TO SUCCEED DIRECTOR__

Charla Myers is the new program director for the Read to Succeed program at the United Way of Southeast Missouri. She worked for the Missouri First Steps program as an area director and regional consultant for the past 10 years. Before that, she worked with child care resource and referral for seven years.

__GUITERREZ NAMED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS__

River City Biologicals of Cape Girardeau announced that Susana Gutierrez was named to the International Serum Industry Association Board of Directors. The annual membership meeting was held in Brugge, Belgium, in May, and the directors took their positions in July. George (Skip) Wrape of River City Biologicals stepped down as chairman of the association after a two-year appointment and remains on the board as a past chairman. River City Biologicals is an animal serum processor for the cell culture, diagnostic and veterinarian business.

__BONNE TERRE CHAMBER DIRECTOR RESIGNS__

BONNE TERRE, Mo. -- Dana Plunkett resigned from her position as executive director of the Bonne Terre Chamber of Commerce, the Park Hills Daily Journal reported. Plunkett said she plans to spend more time with her family but will help in the transition while the chamber finds her replacement. Julie Pratte, president of the chamber board of directors, said the position will move from full time to part time.

__JATEFF HONORED FOR MARY KAY SALES__

Future executive senior sales director Jana Jateff of Mary Kay Cosmetics recently returned from Dallas, where she was honored for the 20th time for national court of sales. She also was honored at a special luncheon for being an all-star performer all four quarters. Jateff has been with Mary Kay for 31 years and has earned the use of 19 career cars.

__ECONOMIC DEVELOPER HIRED FOR KENNETT__

KENNETT, Mo. -- The Kennett Board of Public Works hired Jim Grebing to lead economic development efforts in Kennett, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported. He comes from the Missouri Department of Economic Development in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he worked as marketing manager in the International Trade and Investing Department. He previously served as director of communication and marketing. For two years Grebing was economic development director for Hermann, Missouri.

__POPLAR BLUFF HAS NEW CITY MANAGER__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Heath Kaplan was hired as the new city manager in Poplar Bluff, the Daily American Republic reported. He and his family are relocating to the area from Muskegon, Michigan.

__JACKSON TEACHER RECEIVES TECHNOLOGY AWARD__

Jackson High School industrial technology teacher Andy Stover received the Southeast High School Technology and Engineering Teacher of the Year Award. He was selected for the award by his peers. Stover, who teaches machine tool technology and energy and power, a small-engine exploratory class, went to Springfield, Missouri, to accept the award, along with assistant principal Travis Wilson and a co-teacher, Anthony Stegeman.

__CENTRAL HIGH TEACHER WINS CHORAL DIRECTORS AWARD__

Jordan Cox, director of vocal music at Central High School in Cape Girardeau, earned the 2014 Outstanding District Director award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association. He was nominated by his peers. This is Cox's fifth year teaching and his third at Central. He previously worked at Jackson High School, his alma mater. Cox also serves as worship pastor at Fruitland Community Church.

__MEEDS LEAVES RED CROSS, ACCEPTS NEW JOB__

On Sept. 19, Debi Meeds is leaving the position of regional chief executive officer of the American Red Cross in southern Missouri. Meeds has been with the American Red Cross more than 23 years and has served as the visionary leader of the local chapter and region since 2005. During her time with the Red Cross, the organization has expanded to provide services across 40 counties in the Southern Missouri Region. She will begin her new responsibilities as CEO and president of the United Way of the Ozarks. The Red Cross plans to select a new executive before Meeds' departure.

__CHAFFEE TEACHER GETS TECHNOLOGY AWARD__

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jaron McMurry, industrial technology and robotics teacher at Chaffee High School, received the Technology Excellence Award at the Industrial Technology Education Association of Missouri's annual summer conference in Springfield, Missouri. The award is presented to an individual for his or her outstanding contributions to the profession; candidates are nominated by their peers. McMurry has been the program's teacher at Chaffee since 2004 and has led the Chaffee Robotics Team to state and national competitions.

__LANSFORD, MCCOY LEAD CENTURY 21__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Craig Lansford was top producer for May and June at Century 21 American Realty. Melba Jean McCoy was top lister for both months.

__MCWATERS JOINS TRANSAMERICA AS CAREER AGENT__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Gary McWaters joined Transamerica as a career agent. He has 14 years of experience in insurance and investment and will offer estate planning, business insurance, retirement planning and long-term annuities through Transamerica. McWaters said Transamerica will soon open a branch in Sikeston, where he will serve as branch manager.

__P.B. REALTY HONORS EMPLOYEES__

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

__KNOPPE, TAYLOR TOP MOSSY OAK__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Stephanie Knoppe was top producer for July at Mossy Oak Properties and Sandy Taylor was top lister.

__BLAIR ATTENDS INSTITUTE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN__

Wes Blair, police chief in Cape Girardeau, was chosen as one of several law enforcement executives from Missouri to participate in the National Law Enforcement Leadership Institute on Violence Against Women hosted by The International Association of Chiefs of Police. Through the experience, IACP intends to raise the response to violence against women crimes higher on law enforcement's agenda and support the adoption of best practices by officers in the Cape Girardeau Police Department, according to a news release. During the four-day institute in Kansas City, Missouri, the participants explored approaches for investigating crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking. Attendance at the institute was supported by a grant to the IACP from the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.