People on the move 4/12/10

Travel agency receives award from Karisma Hotels

Elite Travel Inc., owned by Carolyn Kempf, was recently awarded the 2009 Best Use of Initiatives from Karisma Hotels. The award was presented during the second annual GI Vacation Consultant Awards and Sales and Marketing Forum at El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya, Mexico. In business since 1993, Elite Travel is the only Gourmet Inclusive agency in the Southeast Missouri region.

Tosser starts art website to benefit Ukrainian orphans

Jessica (Terry) Tosser, who grew up in Jackson and attended Jackson High School, has founded Artful Giver, a website displaying art from the orphaned children in Sunshine Orphanage in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine. The website, www.artfulgiver.org allows people to bid for children's artwork. The highest donation receives the art and a picture of the child as a gift. Tosser and her husband, Keegan, teach at Kiev International School in Kiev, Ukraine.

Bank Star Mortgage hires three to staff area offices

Sharon Hopkins, Beverly Welker and Baxter Hoover, formerly of Heartland Mortgage in Cape Girardeau, have joined Bank Star Mortgage, a multi-state lender headquartered in Kirkwood, Mo. As part of the arrangement, Bank Star Mortgage will also have an office in Marble Hill, Mo. Hopkins will be the branch manager in the new office at 1301 N. Kingshighway, as well as the office at 303 Plutarch St. in Marble Hill. Hopkins has more than 20 years of experience in real estate, including 10 years as owner of a title insurance company and five years as a mortgage broker. Welker has been in the banking industry for 10 years. She is a native of Bollinger County and has been a loan officer since 2005. Hoover has been a full-time mortgage professional in Cape Girardeau since 1998. Originally from Doniphan, Mo., he has been in real estate, banking and mortgage lending for the past 18 years. He lives in Cape Girardeau.

Houchins promoted at Modern Woodmen

Robert I. Houchins of Jackson has been promoted to managing partner for Modern Woodmen of America. Funded in 1883 Modern Woodmen of America is a fraternal benefit society that offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

People on the Move items must be received by 2 p.m. Thursday to appear Monday. Submit items by e-mail to mmiller@semissourian.com, by fax to 334-7288 or by mail to P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702.