Names in the news

__NIERMANN JOINS HENDRICKSON BUSINESS ADVISORS__

Alison Niermann joined Hendrickson Business Advisors in Cape Girardeau as director of business development. She is a native of Chesterfield, Missouri, and has expertise in employee recruitment, training and business development, according to a news release. She moved to Cape Girardeau in March 2013. In her new role, she will work with business owners and managers to help them accomplish their goals through consulting and training services.

__REAVES RECEIVES NEW MEMBER LEADER AWARD__

MALDEN, Mo. -- Jerry Reaves of Malden, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was New Member Leader in the Missouri East Region for December. He has been with the company since October 2004.

__EMBRY JOINS UNITED WAY__

Kristi Embry joined The United Way of Southeast Missouri as director of education initiatives. She replaces recent retirees Jo Peukert and Janice Jones, coordinators of the organization's LIFE and Success By 6 initiatives. Embry will now provide coordination of both initiatives while also furthering United Way's overall impact in its education focus area, according to a news release. Embry has a Ph.D. in English and has more than 15 years of experience in communicating with educators. She previously taught English at the college level for more than a decade.

__MCCOY LEADS CENTURY 21__

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

__MINERAL AREA COLLEGE FILLS THREE POSITIONS__

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Dan Jaycox of Farmington, Missouri, is the new Learning Center director at Mineral Area College. He previously was an assistant professor of English and learning management systems director at the college. Additionally, Jeff McCreary of Crystal City, Missouri, joined the college as director of public safety. He last worked as chief of police at the Crystal City Police Department and has 28 years of experience in law enforcement. John Wright of Farmington also joined Mineral Area College as its mathematics lab coordinator. He formerly worked as district executive for the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and research assistant in the Laboratory of Elizabeth Sztul at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

__FARMERS HONORED AT SIKESTON CHAMBER LUNCHEON__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Several individuals were honored recently at the Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual Farmers Recognition Luncheon. Awards went to Hulshof Farms in Scott County, Farm Family of the Year; Vanessa McGarity, Farm Female of the Year; Don King, Agri-Business Service Award; and Vest Baker, Jaycee Outstanding Young Farmer.

__WOOD NAMED TO DEXTER SCHOOLS' TOP SPOT__

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Board of Education of the Dexter R-XI School District voted to employ Mitchell D. Wood as superintendent of schools, effective July 1, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. Wood has been serving as superintendent of the Oran R-3 District since 2004. Before becoming superintendent at Oran, he was a teacher, coach and activities director from 1992 to 1999 and served as principal at the junior high and high school level in the same district from 1999 to 2004 for a total of 23 years in the Oran district. He previously taught and coached at Hayti, Missouri, from 1989 to 1992.

__JACKSON HIRES NEW SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT__

The Jackson School District will have a new superintendent July 1. John Link was hired to replace superintendent Ron Anderson, who is retiring at the end of June, the school board announced Feb. 6. Link has been superintendent in the Fair Grove School District, about 10 miles northeast of Springfield, Missouri, since 2006 and previously worked as superintendent and high school principal in the Hartville, Missouri, School District, according to a news release from the board. Link has a doctorate in educational administration from Lindenwood University and a specialist degree in education from Missouri State University, the release stated.

__BOOTHEEL COUNSELING HONORS EMPLOYEES__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Brittney Kitchen of East Prairie, Missouri, was chosen by her co-workers as employee of the month for December at Bootheel Counseling Services and Family Medical Clinic. She has been with the agency for more than a year as a community support worker. Additionally, Carrie Huggins was employee of the month for January. She works as an office manager in the Stoddard County branch and has been with the agency for more than five years.

__AMOS RECEIVES MODERN WOODMEN AWARDS__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Patrica Amos of Sikeston, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was Life Leader and New Member Leader in the Missouri East Region for January. She has been with the company since October.

__WARD HONORED FOR 10 YEARS OF SERVICE__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Ron Ward was honored for 10 years of outstanding service at Steward Steel Inc.

__SIX FROM MISSOURI NAMED TO COTTON COUNCIL POSTS__

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Six Missouri cotton industry members were elected to leadership positions in the National Cotton Council for 2015, including David Blakemore, a Campbell ginner, who was elected NCC director, according to a news release from the council. Former NCC chairman Charles H. Parker, a Senath producer, was re-elected as an adviser to the NCC board. Steve Droke, a Hornersville producer, was re-elected as the Missouri/Illinois chairman of the NCC's American Cotton Producers. Re-elected as the NCC's Missouri/Illinois unit officers were A.C. Riley James, a ginner from New Madrid, chairman; William Hunter, a producer and marketing cooperative representative from Bell City, vice chairman; and Stephen Harris, a ginner from Senath, secretary. The cotton industry leaders were named to their posts during the recent NCC annual meeting in Memphis.

__FICKERT NAMED COMMERCIAL TEAM LEAD__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Miranda Fickert of Poplar Bluff was named regional commercial team lead for U.S. Bank in Southeast Missouri. She works at the U.S. Bank office on Main Street in Poplar Bluff. She has worked at U.S. Bank for 10 years and has served as a credit analyst, commercial relationship manager and market president.

__SCOTT CITY NAMES NEW SUPERINTENDENT__

Beginning July 1, Brian Lee, high school principal at Diamond School District in Diamond, Missouri, will take over as superintendent of the Scott City School District. Lee will replace superintendent Diann Ulmer, who plans to retire at the end of this school year. In 2008, Lee graduated from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, with an educational specialist degree. He earned his master's degree in educational administration in 2005 from William Woods and his bachelor of science in education in 1992, with a major in social studies and physical education. He has worked in education for 22 years, including 13 as a coach and teacher of social studies, physical education and special education.

__JOHNSON HIRED AS ACTING SUPERINTENDENT FOR SCENIC RIVERWAYS__

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Former Riverways chief ranger Larry Johnson was selected to serve as acting superintendent at Ozark National Scenic Riverways after Bill Black retired Jan. 3. Johnson returned to the Riverways on Jan. 16 and will serve as the acting superintendent for up to 120 days while a new permanent superintendent is sought. Johnson is a 32-year veteran of the National Park Service and has served as superintendent of Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota since July 2010.

__S&W CABINETS EMPLOYEES ATTEND INDUSTRY SHOW__

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Kim Duggins, Cory Roper, Brittany Keller and Richard Fletcher, employees of the manufacturing division at S&W Cabinets, attended the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show from Jan. 20 to 22 in Las Vegas. The convention featured new products, trends and technologies to design, build and remodel homes. More than 125,000 residential design and construction professionals were represented at the show.

__AREA CORN FARMERS WIN TOP-YIELD HONORS__

Matthew Cox of Scott City, Jerry Cox of Delta and Nick Lanpher of Cape Girardeau earned titles in the National Corn Growers Association annual statewide contest for their 2014 crop yields. Matthew Cox took first place in the no-till/strip-till non-irrigated division with 348 bushels an acre and third place in the AA no-till/strip-till non-irrigated division with 313 bushels an acre. Jerry Cox won first place in the AA no-till/strip-till non-irrigated division with 349 bushels an acre and first in the irrigated division with 344 bushels an acre. Lanpher finished second place in the AA no-till/no-strip non-irrigated division with 314 bushels an acre. Jerry Cox also finished second in the AA non-irrigated division with 340 bushels an acre. The farmers planted Pioneer brand seeds, according to a news release.

__GROVES NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF KBSI__

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. named Edwin Groves as general manager of KBSI (FOX) in the markets of Paducah, Kentucky; Cape Girardeau; Harrisburg, Illinois; and Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He also will be responsible for the oversight of WDKA (MNT), which is programmed by Sinclair under a local marketing agreement. Groves has more than 25 years of experience in the broadcast industry, including various management and sales positions, according to a news release from Sinclair. He most recently held the position of general sales manager at WAAY (ABC) in Huntsville, Alabama, from 2009 to 2014.

__HALTER APPOINTED TO WINTER INSTITUTE BOARD__

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, appointed Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, to the Winter Board of Regents. As a member of the board, Halter will implement the policies created by the institute's National Board of Trustees. The institute's five boards of regents serve on behalf of the National Board of Trustees. Each board is responsible for recruitment, retention and marketing of the program nationwide. Each regent is an institute graduate nominated by his or her peers.

__MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

Tim Conklin of Cape Girardeau was employee of the month for February at Mondi Jackson Inc. Conklin, an engineering services technician, has been with the company since Jan. 14, 1991. Mondi Jackson also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: James Johnston, Ronald "Shane" Webb and Rod Davis, 15 years of service.

__WOODS JOINS UNITED LAND TITLE__

Jeanie Woods joined United Land Title in January as a marketer. She has been in the real estate title insurance industry since 2006. In her new position, she is responsible for building customer relationships and managing marketing strategies. She works from United Land Title's main office in Jackson; the company also has two locations in Cape Girardeau.

__THIERET NAMED OUTSTANDING BEGINNING TEACHER__

Adam Thieret, an English teacher at Cape Girardeau Central High School, was selected as one of two Outstanding Beginning Teachers from Southeast Missouri State University. The award is given every two years by the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and each education preparation program in Missouri was given an opportunity to nominate two beginning teachers. The award requires a faculty and P-12 administrator nomination. Thieret, 22, was nominated by high school principal Mike Cowan and Southeast instructor Christine Warren. Thieret was presented with the award March 4 in Jefferson City during a conference that included roundtable discussions and workshops.

__OLD TOWN CAPE PRESENTS HONORS__

Old Town Cape hosted its annual awards dinner Feb. 19. Awards went to Thomas R. Higgins Accounting LLC, Business Excellence Award; Janus Development Group, Adaptive Use Recognition Award; and Jim Maurer, Volunteer of the Year and Charles L. Hutson Visionary awards.

__TG MISSOURI HONORS EMPLOYEES__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Craig Boland and Tina Donze were employees of the month for February at TG Missouri Interior Exterior Division.

__LOREY EARNS PMP DESIGNATION__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Rob Lorey, project manager at Robinson Construction Co., earned the designation of project management professional from the Project Management Institute. The PMP designation demonstrates experience, education and competency in project management and is a globally recognized standard for the project management profession, according to a news release from Robinson. To be eligible for certification, Lorey had to meet the PMI's education and experience requirements, agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct and pass an examination.