Names in the news

__MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

Bradley Ahrens of Oak Ridge was employee of the month for March at Mondi Jackson Inc. Ahrens, a material handler, has been with the company since March 5, 2012. Mondi Jackson also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Melody Burroughs, 15 years of service; Joshua Schultz, 10 years; and Terry Campbell, five years.

__BUSCH PET PRODUCTS OWNERS ATTEND PET EXPO__

Stacy Busch-Heisserer and her husband, Chris, owners of Busch Pet Products and the Zoomin' Groomer Mobile Dog Salon in Cape Girardeau, attended the 2015 Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida. Global is the pet industry's largest trade show, with more than 1,000 exhibitors, 3,000 new product launches and more than 6,000 new pet products from around the world. The Heisserers scouted new products for their store and attended educational sessions on pet store retailing, power merchandising, going green and the importance of social media. They also attended seminars on obesity in pets and cognitive decline in aging pets.

__BEAN RECOGNIZED WITH ART EDUCATOR AWARDS__

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- The National Art Education Association recognized Vicki Bean of Caruthersville as the 2015 National Secondary Division Art Educator of the Year. She also will receive the simultaneous honor of overall Art Educator of the Year for the association's western region, which consists of a 17-state area. Bean was presented both awards during the NAEA national convention in New Orleans in late March. Bean is a high school art instructor and fine arts department chair in the Caruthersville School District. With 17 years experience in the classroom, Bean was recognized not only for her outstanding work with students, but also for her state and national efforts to promote arts education as a core component of a comprehensive education, according to a news release.

__DEXTER FARMER INDUCTED TO HALL OF FAME__

DEXTER, Mo. -- Jim Stuever of Dexter was inducted into the National Corn Growers Association Recruiter Hall of Fame during the organization's awards banquet Feb. 27 in Phoenix. Stuever, past president of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, earned the recognition through his efforts in recruiting members in Missouri. He is only the fourth Missouri corn grower to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on individuals who have excelled in recruiting new corn grower members in their respective states.

__EDWARD JONES TEAM COMPLETES ADVANCED TRAINING__

Stan Irwin, a financial adviser at Edward Jones in Cape Girardeau, and Tami Nenninger, a branch office administrator, attended an invitation-only training opportunity at the firm's headquarters in St. Louis. The three-day Advanced Practice Management Forum was offered to branch teams throughout the country who rank among the top-third most successful in the firm in helping clients work toward their long-term financial goals.

__FOUST, ATCHISON HONORED BY MODERN WOODMEN__

Sandy Foust of Broseley, Missouri, a financial representative for Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was New Member Leader in the Missouri East Region in February. Additionally, financial representative Darrell Atchison of Williamsville, Missouri, was representative of the month for the region in February.

__HALE, BUNCH PROMOTED AT NEW ERA BANK__

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Patty Hale was promoted to executive vice president of bank operations at New Era Bank, and Debbie Bunch was promoted to senior vice president. Hale, of Fredericktown, has worked at New Era for 41 years and now is responsible for management of bankwide operations. Bunch, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, has 36 years of banking and lending experience and joined New Era in 2005. She now manages commercial lending relationships and supervises the credit review function of the bank.

__JEWELRYMAKER SET FOR 'BATTLE OF THE BRANDS'__

Claire Bruce, owner of Sloan + Themis in Cape Girardeau, is competing to be a "champion of Missouri entrepreneurship" with participation in a statewide bracket-style contest called Missouri Battle of the Brands. The competition is hosted by MOSourceLink, a grant-funded support system for small businesses. The contest includes several voting-based elimination rounds. Sloan + Themis, which makes and sells handmade jewelry at its store at 31 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, was one of 32 businesses still in contention in early March, Bruce reported. More information is available at mosourcelink.com.

__KELSEY RECEIVES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE__

Tom Kelsey, commercial real estate broker for Lorimont Place Ltd. in Cape Girardeau, received an Award of Excellence designation for 2014 from the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors. The recognition is given to members who produce multimillion-dollar volume for property sold and leased during the preceding year, according to a news release. Kelsey qualified for the highest-volume "Pinnacle Level" unassisted award. He has received the award for the past 19 years and has been selling and leasing real estate in the region for 21 years. He is a member of the Realtors Commercial Alliance, National Association of Realtors, Missouri Association of Realtors, Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors, MLS and Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

__LYNN RETIRES FROM CAPE FIRE DEPARTMENT__

Capt. Dean Lynn retired March 6 from the Cape Girardeau Fire Department after more than 33 years of service. He joined the department in November 1981. Lynn was recognized for his service during the March 2 city council meeting.

__DICUS TO RETIRE FROM SIKESTON DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Capt. Ken Dicus, fire division commander at the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, will retire soon to become the South Scott County Ambulance District's next director, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. He has worked for the Department of Public Safety since August 1981.

__MCLEAN, CLINE LEAD MOSSY OAK__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Amy McLean was top producer for February at Mossy Oak Properties, and Ronnie Cline was top lister.

__P.B. FUNERAL DIRECTOR RECERTIFIED__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Randall Schulz, funeral director at Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, qualified for recertification of the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. To receive the award, the practitioner must complete a 180-hour program of continuing education activities and events. In addition, the practitioner is required to accumulate 20 hours per year to recertify.

__WHITTEN, HENDERSON TOP COLDWELL__

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

__HENDRICKSON EARNS BOARD CERTIFICATION, MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PRODUCER AWARDS__

Jennifer Hendrickson, business broker and owner of the Murphy Business office in Cape Girardeau, earned the designation of Board Certified Intermediary. She also was awarded the Multi-Million Dollar Producer Award for her work in 2014. Hendrickson has been helping clients value, buy and sell businesses since 2010, when she became affiliated with Murphy Business and Financial Corporation, the No. 1 business brokerage firm in the United States, according to IBIS World. Although the franchise territory Hendrickson owns is in Southeast Missouri, she works with several national franchisers to sell their existing franchises, thereby helping clients with transactions throughout the country. BCI certification involves completing 100 hours of approved coursework, reaching educational and experiential milestones, attending conferences, securing letters of reference, transacting in several million dollars of business and passing a comprehensive proctored exam. The Multi-Million Dollar Producer Award is a new award this year and was presented at the Murphy Business annual conference in Clearwater, Florida. It recognizes business brokers whose total transaction values surpassed $2 million in 2014. Of more than 300 brokers in the network, only 32 brokers received the award.

__GARNER HIRED AS SCOTT CITY ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL__

April Garner, who has worked at Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau for 16 years, will become the principal of Scott City Elementary starting Aug. 1. Garner, a principal intern at Jefferson, was among 15 candidates who applied for the position. Courtney Kern, who served as the elementary principal for 12 years, resigned last month to return to a teaching position, superintendent Diann Ulmer said. A selection committee was formed, and five candidates were interviewed. The committee included school administrators and teachers, as well as Brian Lee, a high school principal at the Diamond School District in Diamond, Missouri, who will take over as superintendent when Ulmer retires this year. Garner taught kindergarten for four years in Perryville, Missouri, before teaching first, fourth and fifth grades at Jefferson. She also was a communication arts teacher in the Title I program, which provides extra help and instruction for struggling readers. As a principal intern, Garner has the same responsibilities as an assistant principal.

__MAINORD NAMED TO ANNUITY PREMIUM PYRAMID__

BENTON, Mo. -- Missouri Farm Bureau insurance agent Scott Mainord Jr. of the Scott County Farm Bureau in Benton achieved membership in the company's Annuity Premium Pyramid, which requires performance as a top agent, according to a news release. Mainord received the honor at the company's annual All Star Sales Conference in March in Branson, Missouri.

__UNITED WAY ADDS TWO TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS__

Brandy McIntire and Ed Groves were appointed in March to the United Way of Southeast Missouri's board of directors. McIntire, an account executive for Fox 23/MY 49 and Sinclair digital solutions, served as the organization's campaign chair in 2014 and has supported numerous fundraising events, according to a news release. Groves, general manager of KBSI, a FOX station under Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., has more than 25 years of experience in the broadcast industry and has been a supporter of the organization.

__PETERSON EARNS CUSTOMER SERVICE HONOR__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Harry Peterson, an American Family Insurance agent in Farmington, was recognized for providing outstanding customer experience under the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program. The distinction was determined through an evaluation process conducted under guidelines established through the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program. The process consists of a customer satisfaction survey that measures customers' experience with their American Family agent. Peterson has been an agent at American Family since February 2013.

__ANDERSSON JOINS ROBINSON CONSTRUCTION__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Ava Andersson joined Robinson Construction as an engineering technician. She is responsible for assisting the engineering department with drafting duties. Andersson is from Cape Girardeau and is a recent graduate of the Southern Illinois University School of Architecture, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in architecture with an emphasis on graphics, organization, computer skills and creative problem solving.

__FARM BUREAU ELECTS NEW LEADERS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Michael Gross was re-elected president of the Butler County Farm Bureau during the group's annual meeting March 24. Annis Walls was elected vice president, replacing Bill Hager, and Paula Moore was re-elected treasurer. Directors re-elected include Shirley Hindman, Mike Smody, Rick and Susie Spargo and Gross.

__HYDE NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR__

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Walter Hyde of Sikeston, Missouri, a maintenance planner at New Madrid Power Plant, was among 13 employees honored March 24 by Associated Electric Cooperative during its annual employee awards ceremony at its Springfield, Missouri, headquarters. Associated Electric operates the New Madrid Power Plant. Excel Award recipients were nominated by their peers and co-workers and selected from nominations by senior management. Hyde received the Excel Employee of the Year in a Technical Field Award. He joined Associated in 2009 as a journeyman electrician, having worked in industrial, mechanical and electrical jobs. Three years later he became a maintenance planner, focusing on the planning of spring and fall maintenance outages at the power plant.

__BICKERSTAFF, MORLAN MARK 30 YEARS AT POWER PLANT__

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- At its recent annual employee recognition event, Associated Electric Cooperative recognized two employees at New Madrid Power Plant who will reach significant service anniversaries in 2015. Ed Bickerstaff, mechanical maintenance supervisor, and Dwayne Morlan, operations maintenance specialist, will celebrate 30-year anniversaries this year at the plant, which generates electricity for rural electric cooperative members.

__BLAIR TO CHAIR MAJOR CASE SQUAD__

Cape Girardeau police chief Wes Blair was elected chairman of the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad board of directors March 26, according to a news release from the case squad. Blair succeeds Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh. Squad bylaws only allow chairs to serve for two years. The Major Case Squad was formed in 1983 to assist local law enforcement with investigations of serious crimes. It allows agencies to pool resources to provide the manpower often essential in solving major crimes. The squad has investigated about 50 cases, solving all but six of the homicides it has investigated, according to the news release.

__PRESSON NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF RUSTMEDIA__

Lucas Presson recently was named general manager of rustmedia, the full-service advertising agency of Rust Communications. Presson previously was editorial-page editor for the Southeast Missourian and special projects manager. He continues to serve on the newspaper editorial board and work on other newspaper projects, including the Semoball Awards, Spirit of America Award and management of Arrow Digital, which produces the student newspaper and news website for Southeast Missouri State University. Presson earned an undergraduate degree in communication studies and a master's degree in business administration from Southeast.

__BELL GETS TOP SALES AWARD__

M.A. Bell of Realty Executives of Cape County received the 2014 Mid-America Region Top 12 Agent Award from Realty Executives International. The Mid-America Region consists of nearly 1,000 Realtors in three states: Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. Bell also received the Platinum Executive Club Award from Realty Executives of Cape County and the Pinnacle Level Award as Top 2 Agent from the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors, with 92 closed transactions in 2014.

__WINCHESTER RECEIVES PRESIDENT'S AWARD__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Matt Winchester, Scott County Farm Bureau insurance agency sale manager, received the 2014 Presidents' All American Award from the Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst presented the award during the company's All Star Sales Conference March 5 to 7 in Branson, Missouri. Winchester also earned Court of Excellence status for the second year and is a 2015 Premier Agent. He also was recognized as a member of the Brokerage P&C Commissions, Town & Country Premium and New Horizons Premium Pyramids.

__AMOS COMPLETES KAPLAN FINANCIAL COURSE__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Patricia Amos, a financial representative for Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, completed Kaplan Financial's Introduction to Advanced Markets course. She started with Modern Woodmen in October 2014.

__BANK OF MISSOURI NOTES EMPLOYMENT ANNIVERSARIES__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Butch Wright and Pam Moore were honored recently for 10 years of service at The Bank of Missouri. Wright serves as IT project manager and Moore is a customer service representative. Chrisy Buerck, training coordinator, also is marking five years of service.


__WHITE ATTENDS VETERINARY CONVENTION__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Dr. Ken White, owner of Perry County Veterinary Hospital in Perryville, attended the 123rd Missouri Veterinary Medical Association convention Jan. 22 to 25 in St. Charles, Missouri. He attended an extensive continuing education program featuring more than 30 speakers on specialized topics.

__FINLEY, MARKLE HONORED BY TG MISSOURI__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Matt Finley was March employee of the month for the staff team at TG Missouri. Jessica Markle was employee of the month for the production team.

__JACKSON CHAMBER ANNOUNCES EDUCATORS OF YEAR__

On April 2, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce and its Education Committee announced its Educators of the Year for 2015. The following teachers were nominated by their peers of educators: For grades kindergarten through five, Dee Wren at Orchard Elementary; for grades six through nine, Jay Spurgeon at Jackson Junior High School; for grades 10 through 12, Becky Bockelman at Jackson Senior High School; for nontraditional, Chris Crawford, music teacher at Jackson High School Jackson; and private, Larry Cleair at Saxony Lutheran High. A banquet honoring the award winners will be held May 14.