Names in the news

Missourian photographers win awards

Entries by two Southeast Missourian photographers won prizes in the recent Associated Press Missouri Kansas Photo Graphics Awards. Don Frazier won first prize in the feature category with a photograph titled "Bubble Boy." Photo director Diane Wilson received a third-place award in the portrait/photo illustration and photo story category for a photograph titled "Gadget Man."

President of state's water quality group elected

Wayne Schremp was recently elected president of the Missouri Water Quality Association. The association helps water treatment professionals with scientific and technical information as well as legislation and regulatory updates. Schremp is currently a WQA-certified water specialist and a certified installer of water-treatment equipment. Schremp is the site manager for Schaefer Water Centers in Perryville, Mo., where he oversees the deionization plant, the day-to-day operations and administrative duties and the future construction of the new bottled water plant.

Secretary earns special designation

Robinson Construction Co. of Perryville announces that Andrea Ponder has earned the Certified Administrative Professional rating from the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), the leading association for administrative support staff. To earn this advanced professional designation, Ponder was required to satisfy education and experience requirements, and pass a comprehensive four-part examination. Ponder has been an administrative professional for close to eight years and a member of the IAAP for one year. She is currently employed as an executive secretary with Robinson Construction Co.

Administrators attend forum

Sixteen members of the Girardot Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals attended the IAAP International Convention and Education Forum in Denver, Colo., in July. While in Denver, members attended seminars given by world-renowned speakers and met with administrative professionals from all over the world. The Girardot Chapter, which has 47 members, will celebrate its 60th anniversary on April 7.

Lawyer earns special award

Cape Girardeau native Morry S. Cole, of the St. Louis law firm Gray, Ritter & Graham PC, was named the 2005 recipient of the St. Louis County Bar Association's Roy F. Essen Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. The annual award is given for excellence as a lawyer, distinguished service to the Bar and outstanding service to the community. Cole represents clients injured by defective products, medical errors and motor vehicle accidents. He is also an instrument-rated pilot and has litigated cases arising out of helicopter and airplane crashes. Earlier this year, Cole, 34, was named a 2005 recipient of The Missouri Bar Foundation's David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in appellate practice by young lawyers of The Missouri Bar.

TV station gives community service award

KFVS-12 in Cape Girardeau has announced that Randy Ray has been awarded the 2005 Don Sherwood Award for Community Service. The award was presented by Mike Smythe, general manager for KFVS-12, at the station's annual Christmas party. For several years Ray has been heavily involved with the United Way of Southeast Missouri, recently serving as the KFVS-12 donation coordinator. He has also been active with the Salvation Army and the Special Olympics. The Sherwood Award is presented each year to the one KFVS-12 employee that best exemplifies the spirit of community service.

Cosmetic consultants honored at dinner

Cape Girardeau resident Jana Jateff, the future executive senior sales director with Mary Kay Cosmetics, recently honored her star performers at a dinner in Sikeston. Those being honored for quarterly sales were: Jateff, LaDonia Beggs of Jackson and Betsy Ferguson of Marquand.

CEO heads local council of state hospital group

Stephen Crain, president and chief executive officer of Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington, Mo., was elected to a one-year term as president of the Missouri Hospital Association Southeast District Council. As district council president, Crain's responsibilities include presiding over quarterly council meetings and guiding discussions of association policy and activities. One of six MHA district council presidents, Crain will direct input from council members regarding national, state and regional health care policies to the MHA Board of Trustees. District council presidents also select recipients of MHA's Excellence in Governance awards.

 Cape-based company wins information award

Big River Telephone Co., a Cape Girardeau-based telecommunications provider, has won a Gartner Inc. CRM Excellence Award. The award, which was organized in cooperation with 1 to 1 Magazine, was given to Big River Telephone in the small to mid-size category.

"Each winner demonstrated a well planned, well executed, goal oriented approach to their project that improved the overall relationship with their customers while providing substantial bottom-line business results," said Adam Sarner, principal analyst at Gartner and CRM Summit chair.

Gartner Inc., based in Samford, Conn., is a leading provider of research and analysis on the global information technology industry.

Rookie of the Month award

Ken Volkerding of Jackson, a district representative with Modern Woodmen of America, in December was named Rookie of the Month in the Missouri East Agency. The honor is given to a full-time representative who has been with the company for less than three years and is leading the agency in production. Volkerding became full-time with Modern Woodmen's Rainwater Agency in Farmington in November 2005. Modern Woodmen is a fraternal life insurance society.

Membership Leader award

Michael Gill of Cape Girardeau, a district representative with Modern Woodmen of America, was named Membership Leader in the Missouri East Agency for the month of December. He works at Modern Woodmen's Rainwater Agency in Farmington.

Receptionist receives certification

Robinson Construction Co. in Perryville has announced that Michelle Overbeck has earned the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) rating from the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), the leading association for administrative support staff. To earn this professional designation, Overbeck was required to satisfy education and experience requirements, and pass a comprehensive three-part examination. Overbeck has been an administrative professional for 11 years and a member of the Girardot Chapter of IAAP for two years. She is currently employed as a receptionist with Robinson Construction Co.

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EMPLOYEE CHANGES

Gail Kamp has joined J. Baer & Associates Certified Public Accountants in Cape Girardeau.

Century 21 has announced the hiring of the following new agents to their companies: at Century 21 Heartland in Jackson, Jim and Jan McClanahan, Chad Clay and John Schloendorf; at Century 21 Heartland in Perryville, Cheryl Brace, Margie Brotherton, Taylor Brown, Charlie Brown, Alan Frenzel, Don and Nora Geisler, Debbie Morris and Vicky VanRonzelen; at Century 21 Key, April Creech, Monte Hefner, Kenny Merriman and Dana Whaley; at Century 21 Ashland, Darlene Broadbent.

Stacey Johnson has joined the staff at Big River Telephone Co. as an account executive in the Farmington region.

Monte Hefner of Tamms, Ill., has joined the sales team at Thomas L. Meyer Realty Co. in Cape Girardeau.

Clint Karnes has been promoted to branch president of Wood & Huston Bank's SEMO Banking Center in Cape Girardeau.

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NEW BUSINESSES

Panera Bread Bakery/Cafe has opened at 3219 William St. in Cape Girardeau.

Ella's Bead Shoppe has opened at 121 W. Clarman in Chaffee. The owner is Ella Dowd.

Anne's Green Thumb Plant Service in Cape Girardeau has been bought by Anne Foust.

The Hair Studio at 227 A. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau has been bought by April Swofford.

Fiesta Grocery, a Mexican grocery store, has opened at 517 N. Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau. The owner is Maria Sevilla.

Magnolia Market, a flower shop, has opened at 206 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau. The owner is Wendy Ray-Durham.

Dented Can and More, a grocery store, has opened at 52 Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau. The owners are Dale Beaird and Tommy and Marissa Waters.

Elite Auto Brokerage has opened at 1716 E. I-55 Outer Road in Scott City. The owner is Brian Godair.

Ozark Fitness has opened at 508 N. West St. in Sikeston.

Tracy's Kenpro Karate Studios in Cape Girardeau has relocated to 1131 N. Kingshighway, Suite 2C in the King's Center mall. The former location was 240 S. Plaza Way. The owner is Roger Arpin.