Names in the news

__THOMPSON RECOGNIZED AS NEW YORK CITY SPECIALIST__

Shannon Thompson, sales manager at Elite Travel Inc. in Cape Girardeau, was recognized as an official NYC Travel Specialist by NYC & Co. She completed the NYC Travel Training Academy, which spans the convention, tourism and hospitality industries throughout the five boroughs, according to a news release from Elite.

__MONDI JACKSON HONORS EMPLOYEES__

Matt Kinsey was employee of the month for August at Mondi Jackson Inc. Kinsey, proof press operator 2, has been with the company since June 7, 2010. Mondi Jackson also recognizes the following employment anniversaries: Randy Rellergert, 25 years of service; Dennis Way, 20 years; and Amanda Kranawetter, 10 years.

__STARNES TO HEAD DEXTER CHAMBER__

DEXTER, Mo. -- Hillary Starnes was hired as executive director of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported. She will replace Janet Coleman, who is retiring from the position at the end of December. Coleman has been executive director of the chamber for more than 23 years. Starnes, a native of Jonesboro, Arkansas, most recently was coordinator of student engagement at Three River College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She began her new duties on Aug. 17 and will work closely with Coleman until her retirement to assist with the transition.

__STROUD COMPLETES BROKER REQUIREMENTS__

Vicki Stroud of Century 21 Ashland Realty received her real estate broker's license for the State of Missouri. During the 48-hour program with the Professional School of Real Estate, Stroud received advanced training in broker responsibilities, office operations, requirements, regulations, financing and management. The course requires agents to have two years of experience in the industry. Stroud has been a licensed real estate salesperson since 2003 and will continue to specialize in residential and commercial property sales in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

__HELLWEGE JOINS MRV BANKS__

Greg Hellwege joined MRV Banks as senior residential lender. He will serve the bank's Cape Girardeau, Ste. Genevieve and Sikeston locations in Southeast Missouri, according to a news release. Hellwege previously served in leading roles at Wells Fargo, including as a sales development consultant, a home mortgage consultant and a branch manager for the company's locations in Sikeston and Cape Girardeau.

__ELFRINK RECEIVES LIFE LEADER AWARD__

Adam Elfrink of Cape Girardeau, a financial representative at Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was Life Leader in the Missouri East Region for July. Elfrink joined Modern Woodmen in July 2014.

__XTREME IMAGE ADDS TO STAFF__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Angie Griffin and Donna Evans joined the staff at Xtreme Image. Griffin has 20 years of experience and previously worked at Hair FX and JCPenney Salon. Evans, former owner of Nails Etc., has more than 40 years of experience.

__ELEMENT 74 STAFFERS PRESENT AT STATE CONFERENCE__

Four Element 74 team members participated in Missouri Main Street Connections' State Revitalization Conference in Kansas City on July 29 and 30. Austin Bollinger and Toni Eftink of Element 74 in Cape Girardeau presented on best digital practices, according to a news release. Eftink also unveiled Missouri Main Street's new website produced by Element 74. Element 74 also was represented by John Reith and Rebekah Corbitt, who managed the vendor booth and details in conjunction with Bollinger and Eftink.

__SANDGREN-KEMPF DESIGNATED AS PERU AGENT SPECIALIST__

Carolyn Sandgren-Kempf, president and CEO of Elite Travel Inc. in Cape Girardeau, is now a registered Peru Agent Specialist, according to a news release. The designation was awarded by The Commission for the Promotion of Peruvian Exports and Tourism.

__STANFIELD NAMED PRINCIPAL AT BERNIE HIGH__

BERNIE, Mo. -- Chris Stanfield of Sikeston, Missouri, is the new principal at Bernie High School, the Delta News Citizen reported. He spent the past 16 years working in the Charleston School District. He has worked in education since 1994, including at Cottonwood Treatment Center in Cape Girardeau and the Hayti School District. He also has been a baseball and football coach.

__UPCHURCH RECOGNIZED BY AG TEACHERS ASSOCIATION__

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Chad Upchurch, ag instructor at Bloomfield High School, was recognized by the Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association for his contribution to agriculture education in Missouri. He was recognized during the MVATA Conference this summer in Springfield, Missouri, the Dexter Daily Statesman reported.

__BAGBY WEALTH TEAM ATTENDS NATIONAL CONFERENCE__

DEXTER, Mo. -- Rhonda Hall, Laura Tessens, Mike Bagby and Cathy Bagby, all of the Bagby Wealth Management team in Dexter, attended LPL Financial's Focus 2015, the largest annual conference hosted by independent broker-dealer LPL. The event took place July 26 to 29 in Boston.

__CAMPBELL NAMED ROOKIE OF THE MONTH__

Tiffany Campbell of Cape Girardeau, financial representative at Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was named Rookie of the Month in the Missouri East Region for July. The honor is given to a full-time representative who has been with the company less than three years and is leading the region in production.

__MILLER JOINS MINERAL AREA COLLEGE__

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Ellen Miller joined Mineral Area College as a full-time reading instructor. She previously taught kindergarten and second grade in the Farmington School District and was a member of the district's positive behavior support, curriculum, instructional practices inventory, curriculum and safety committees, according to a news release.

__HOTOP NAMED BUSINESS BANKING TEAM LEADER__

Jeff Hotop assumed the role of business banking team leader at Commerce Bank on Sept. 1. He is serving the bank's Cape Girardeau and Jackson markets. He has 13 years of banking experience, including seven years at Commerce Bank as a commercial relationship manager.

__LONG JOINS DEVELOPMENT STAFF AT LFCS__

Michelle Long of Jackson joined Lutheran Family and Children's Services as development coordinator in the Cape Girardeau region. She has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, sales and public relations. In her new role, she is responsible for development efforts to raise funding in support of LFCS, according to a news release. Her primary focus is on special events, church relations and annual giving activities.

__EFTINK PROFILED IN NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL__

Brian L. Eftink, vice president, legal, at Wacker Chemical Corp. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, recently was profiled in the National Law Journal. At Wacker, Eftink personally oversees 500 contracts and nondisclosure agreements with subcontractors. He became Wacker's sole U.S. attorney five years ago, but since has added two staff lawyers and additional staff. Before working for Wacker, Eftink spent 10 years at the Miller & Martin law firm in Chattanooga. Eftink is the son of Mary Jane and Leon Eftink of Cape Girardeau. He is a 1992 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School and attended Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

__CROCKER NAMED CHAMPIONSHIP AGENT__

IRONTON, Mo. -- Crystal Crocker, of the Ironton area, was named a Championship Agent by Farmers Insurance for outstanding achievement and customer focused efforts by the Los Angeles-based multiline insurer. Crocker was selected based on a number of criteria, including her distinction in providing exceptional service to customers and a commitment to furthering the goals and standards of Farmers Insurance.

__ADAM LILEY JOINS LILEY FUNERAL HOME__

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Adam C. Liley joined the family business, Liley Funeral Home, as a sales consultant. He is based at the 404 Union St. location in Marble Hill.

__TROXELL, HUTCHINGS JOIN HUTCHINGS FUNERAL CHAPEL__

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Calvin Troxell of Marble Hill and Madeleine Hutchings of Leopold, Missouri, joined the staff at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill. They are both licensed funeral directors.

__KNEIBERT ATTENDS CONFERENCE__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ann Kneibert, licensed professional counselor and national certified counselor, attended psychopharmacology, a workshop focusing on what counselors need to know about psychiatric medications. The workshop was led by Dr. Tom Smith, one of the nation's few credentialed combinations of doctor of pharmacy and licensed mental health counselor.

__WHELAN ATTENDS IRA WORKSHOP__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Robert Whelan of Robert J. Whelan CPA, PC, attended the Ed Slott and Company IRA Workshop July 30 and 31 in Philadelphia.

__KOPPENAAL HIRED AS ASSISTANT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY__

Sara Koppenaal was hired as an additional assistant prosecuting attorney at the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Her position represents the first time the office has expanded its number of assistant prosecutors since Jan. 1, 1998, according to a news release. Koppenaal, a Jackson native, attended Southeast Missouri State University and then Valparaiso University School of Law, where she graduated with a juris doctoral degree in December 2013. She passed the Missouri Bar Examination in February 2014 and worked as assistant prosecuting attorney in Scott County, Missouri, from May 2014 to July 2015. In her new role, her caseload will primarily consist of misdemeanor and low-level felony offenses. Koppenaal previously interned in the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in 2010.

__LAIR, WIBBENMEYER TO LEAD AFTERNOON NEWSCAST__

KFVS12 began an additional newscast on Sept. 8. The newscast, "Heartland News Now," airs live at 4 p.m. weekdays and is anchored by Mollie Lair. Meteorologist Laura Wibbenmeyer is part of the newscast as well. KFVS12 news director Mark Little said in a news release "Heartland News Now" will include breaking news, news of the day, weather forecasts, consumer information, parenting advice and information on community events and will preview stories on Heartland News at 5 and 6 p.m.