People on the Move 11/15/10

Hospital group honors Bjelich

Steven Bjelich

Steven C. Bjelich, president and CEO of Saint Francis Healthcare System, was honored by the Missouri Hospital Association for his contributions to improving the health of his community. The award was presented Nov. 4 during a dinner ceremony at MHA's 88th annual convention and trade show in Osage Beach, Mo. Bjelich was recognized for his leadership in identifying community needs and structuring health services to address underserved populations. Bjelich identified both neonatal and trauma care as areas of need in Southeast Missouri. Through targeted physician recruiting and investment in facilities, Saint Francis opened the area's first Level III neonatal intensive care unit in 2001 and Level III trauma center in 2004. Access to primary care physician services also was identified by Bjelich as an area of communitywide need. Saint Francis partnered with the region's largest primary care group to form Cape Physician Associates and recruited two physicians to create Cape Primary Care to meet the primary care demand. Saint Francis has partnered with local physicians to purchase Immediate Convenient Care, an urgent care center and a designated rural health clinic, and holds a minority interest in the local Doctors' Express, a national urgent care company. Saint Francis has more than 19 joint ventures with physicians.

Fitness Plus promotes Lawrence

Dianne Lawrence

Dianne Lawrence has been named assistant manager of health and fitness at Fitness Plus. She will assist the director with hiring, training, developing and managing the fitness staff, including fitness specialists, personal trainers and Athletic Republic staff, and coordinating and implementing fitness-related programs. Lawrence joined Saint Francis Medical Center in 2005 as a group exercise instructor at Fitness Plus. She soon added personal training and became a fitness specialist. She has been the lead fitness specialist at Fitness Plus for the last year. Before joining Saint Francis, Lawrence was a group exercise instructor and personal trainer at a fitness center in Sikeston and at the student recreation center at Southeast Missouri State University during her undergraduate studies. Lawrence received a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Southeast Missouri State University in 2006. She is a certified group exercise instructor, personal trainer and fitness specialist.

Stapleton to serve on board

Dr. James Stapleton

Dr. James Stapleton, executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and assistant professor of management at Southeast Missouri State University, was elected to the University Economic Development Association Board of Directors at their membership meeting Tuesday in Reno, Nev. Candidates from across the nation were considered to serve in a planning and advisory capacity to this professional alliance. Stapleton attended his first board meeting Wednesday at the close of the organization's annual summit. He will serve on the board for a term of two years. The University Economic Development Association is a growth-oriented national organization of higher education, business and economic development professionals.

Davis named manager of park center

Heather Davis

Heather Davis was promoted to Shawnee Park Center manager Nov. 8. She has worked for the Parks and Recreation Department as a recreation coordinator since September 2008. Shawnee Park Center is at 835 West End Blvd. and operated by the city of Cape Girardeau.

Travel agents attend MLT University

Carolyn Kempf, president and CEO of Elite Travel Inc., and travel consultants Cortney Hinkebein, Brian Matthews and Jamie Stroder recently attended and completed the 17th annual MLT University in St. Paul, Minn. "MLT University always provides the most extensive educational series including every major leisure travel destination throughout the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia," Kempf said. MLT Vacations is one of the largest tour operators in the United States. With more than 40 years in business, MLT Vacations provides travel agents with industry-leading education.