Names in the news

__MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

Hugh McGowan of Jackson was employee of the month for June at Mondi Jackson Inc. McGowan, a press assistant, has been with the company since Dec. 9, 2013. Mondi Jackson also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Daniel Heisserer and Doug Davis, 25 years of service; Daniel Peterson, Ande Pfeiffer, Thomas VanderFeen, Chad Ritter, Pete Weaver and Michelle Clippard, 15 years; and Matthey Kinsey, Darren Whitledge and Kristin Caldwell, five years.

__CARUTHERSVILLE LIBRARYHAS NEW DIRECTOR__

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- Teresa Tidwell is the new director of the Caruthersville Public Library, the Democrat Argus reported. She is a lifelong resident of Caruthersville and had worked as a teacher and school librarian since the late 1970s. She replaces Brenda Davis, who retired after 13 years as library director.

__COLEMAN TO RETIRE FROM DEXTER CHAMBER__

DEXTER, Mo. -- Janet Coleman will retire at the end of 2015 after 23 years as executive director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, the Daily Statesman reported. The board of directors has begun the search for a replacement.

__EUDALEY FINISHES INSURANCE COURSES__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Richard Eudaley of Poplar Bluff, a financial representative at Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, completed Kaplan Financial's Basic I for the Insurance Professional course and Kaplan's Ethics for the Insurance Professional course. He has been with the company since April.

__JOHNSON NAMED INTERIM DEAN FOR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS__

Dr. Gary Johnson, associate dean of the Donald L. Harrison College of Business and professor of accounting at Southeast Missouri State University, was named interim dean of the Harrison College of Business. Johnson, who has been associate dean of the Harrison College of Business since 2006, assumed his new role June 1, according to a news release from the university. He will serve as interim dean through Dec. 31. Johnson replaces Dr. Gerald McDougall, who was named interim provost and chief academic officer of the university, effective June 1. McDougall replaced Dr. William Eddleman, who recently announced he was stepping down from the provost position to return to the faculty. A national search is underway to find a permanent replacement for the provost. McDougall is not a candidate for the permanent position.

__EXIT REALTY ADDS AGENT__

Toktam Khatami-Nouri joined Exit Realty-Thomas Meyer Associates in Cape Girardeau as a real estate agent. Khatami-Nouri grew up in Germany and holds a bachelor's degree in business economics from FH-Aachen in Germany and a master's degree in organizational management from Southeast Missouri State University. She speaks three languages, according to a news release from the realty company, including German, Farsi and English. The company is owned by Thomas M. Meyer.

__THOMPSON BECOMES CERTIFIED SANDALS SPECIALIST__

Shannon Thompson, sales manager at Elite Travel Inc. in Cape Girardeau, completed the Sandals Resorts' Certified Sandals Specialist program. A Certified Sandals Specialist is a travel professional who has completed extensive training in everything Sandals Resorts have to offer. CSS designation is only given to those who complete a rigorous education and training program on a yearly basis.

__MYERS NAMED EMA DIRECTOR__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Robbie Myers was named director of the Butler County Emergency Management Agency, the Daily American Republic reported. He had been serving as interim director for two months before he was hired on a permanent basis on June 1. Former director Jeff Shavan resigned in March to pursue a private business opportunity.

__KNODELL LEADS P.B. REALTY__

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

__WHITTEN, SPENCER TOP COLDWELL__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Terri Whitten was top producer for May at Coldwell Banker Ruth Holloway Realty, and Julie Spencer was top lister for the month.

__CLINE, EMMONS LEAD MOSSY OAK__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ronnie Cline was top lister for May at Mossy Oak Properties. Derek Emmons was top producer for April and May.

__FOUST EARNS SEVERAL HONORS__

BROSELEY, Mo. -- Sandy Foust of Broseley, a financial representative at Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was representative of the month, life leader and new member leader in the Missouri East Region for May. She has worked for the company since October.

__REGENTS GRANT FACULTY PROMOTIONS, TENURE, MERITS__

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents on June 19 granted a number of merits, promotions and tenure to faculty members. Those approved for post-professorial merit in their designated department include Lisa Bertrand, Margaret Dalton, Marc Fulgham, Susan Gonders-Golike, Mark Langenfeld, Fred Jones, Thomas Joseph Pujol, Kenneth Stilson and Susan Swartwout. Faculty members promoted to the rank of professor in their designated department are Indi Braden, Beth Easter, Beverly Evans, Leslie Jones, Charles McAllister, James McGill, Katherine Smith, Michael Taylor, Irina Ustinova and Victor Wilburn. Additionally, Mary Elizabeth Ambery was promoted to the rank of associate professor in her department. Faculty members promoted to the rank of associate professor and tenure in their designated department include Tamara Buck, Wendy Cooper, Emily Denlinger, Jeremy Heider, Michelle Kilburn, Alisha Youngblood Ortiz, Shonta Smith, Jason Wagganer and Julie Weathers. Nontenure track faculty members approved for merit in their designated department are Frederick Adjei, Bryan Bowers, Gary Cesarz, Misty Chisum, Brooke Clubbs, Robbie Davis, John Dudley, Jennifer Gadberry, Melissa Ann Graham, Laurie Hamblin, Carol Nesler, Laurie Overmann, Pennie Pflueger, Kevin Sexton, Robin Standridge and Paul Thompson.

__WHEELER RETIRES FROM ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC__

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Pearl Wheeler recently retired from a 33-year career at Associated Electric Cooperative, where she held several roles at the cooperative's New Madrid power plant. Wheeler was a general utility worker and worked in the parts warehouse. She received the cooperative's Excel award for Employee of the Year in a Vocational Field in 2007, according to a news release, and also has been honored for safety.

__CPA FIRM ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Thurman, Shinn & Co. Certified Public Accountants announced the promotion of Adam Schweiss to partner and John Boyd to manager. Schweiss has been a tax manager at the company for three years and will continue to specialize in corporate, trust/estate and individual taxation, as well as financial reporting. Boyd has practiced in public accounting since 2006. He will be responsible for project management, while continuing to specialize in corporate, individual and payroll taxation as well as financial reporting.

__ELEMENT 74 APPOINTS THREE TO NEW POSITIONS__

Element 74 in Cape Girardeau appointed Toni Eftink as director of user experience, Austin Bollinger as director of marketing and Manish Shrestha as director of software development. Eftink has been a project manager at Element 74 for four years; she will continue this role in addition to her new duties. Bollinger's new duties overlap his current roles of project manager and video production specialist, in which he has served for almost three years. He now is responsible for creating and managing a marketing plan and corresponding budget, along with the company's public and client relations. Shrestha's new title coincides with his current role as senior application developer. He has more than eight years of experience in software development.

__MCCOY, HICKS LEAD CENTURY 21__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Melba Jean McCoy was top producer for May at Century 21 American Realty, and Carla Hicks was top lister for the month.

__FIVE AT AUTRY MORLAN DODGE HONORED__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Five sales employees at Autry Morlan Dodge in Sikeston were named 2014 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Performance Institute Certified Professional Program winners. The program annually awards sales employees, after-sales employees and technicians who have attained higher levels of training, customer service and performance. Ray Mills earned certified level achievement in the sales manager category. In the sales category, Terry J. Couch earned master level achievement; Jess Sheehy earned certified level achievement; and Kevin Winter and Cherie L. Whitten earned certified specialist level achievement.

__DIRNBERGER RETIRES FROM FIRST COMMERCIAL BANK__

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Charlotte Dirnberger retired June 30 from First Commercial Bank in Chaffee. She began her career in 1968 at the Bank of Chaffee and is retiring after 47 years of service. During that time, she has worked as a bookkeeper, cashier, branch manager, senior vice president and comptroller.

__KAISER JOINS SERVICE MASTER__

Shelly Kaiser of Jackson joined ServiceMaster PCS in Sikeston, Missouri, as sales/marketing representative. She is responsible for building and maintaining business relationships, along with the company's image.