Names in the news

Jackson man steps down from board

Gene Wills, managing partner of Gene E. Wills Insurance Agency in Jackson, has stepped down from his position as a board member for Columbia Insurance Group of Columbia, Mo., after 10 years. Wills served on the boards of both the Columbia Mutual Insurance Co. and the Columbia Insurance Group Inc. During his time on the board, revenue for the corporation doubled, the company reported in a prepared statement, and financial reserves grew by an even stronger rate. Wills will continue to operate his insurance agency in Jackson.

Real estate broker moves business

Doris Jean Arnold, broker-owner of Prime Properties LLC, has moved her real estate business to Century 21 Ashland at 2441 Myra Drive, owner Kenneth Inman announced. Arnold has been a Centurion sales associate and is a member of the Cape Girardeau Board of Realtors, the Cape Girardeau Multi-List Service, the Missouri Association of Realtors and the National Board of Realtors, as well as the newly created Women's Council of Realtors. Arnold specializes in residential, commercial, land development and new construction.

Director named at children's home

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- CAREN MELL has been named executive director of the Farmington Children's Home. Mell is a Farmington native and has worked with the home for several years.

Treatment center names employee of year

Brenda Abernathy of Jackson won recognition as the Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center employee of the year for 2007. Abernathy, a registered nurse, has been with the program since 2003, and the award cited her as a skilled worker who inspires others. Cottonwood is a Missouri Department of Mental Health facility providing residential treatment for children aged 6 to 17 who have emotional and behavioral problems.

Benton rep becomes rookie of month

Kasey Mathes-Klughart of Benton, Mo., a district representative with Modern Woodmen of America, was recently named rookie of the month and membership leader in the Missouri East Agency for June. In May, Mathes-Klughart became a full-time employee with Modern Woodmen's Rainwater Agency in Farmington, Mo.

Jarrett joins Sikeston bank

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Samantha Jarrett is the new assistant vice president at First Midwest Bank of Sikeston.

Jarrett, who joined the staff April 23, will serve as mortgage loan officer with the bank. She has a bachelor's degree in finance and 14 years banking experience, including three years in mortgage lending.

Jarrett, a Sikeston native, is the daughter of Chris Jarrett of Sikeston and the late Tim Jarrett. She is the mother of one son.

Enterprise promotes employees

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- ANNE ROTERMUND has been named branch manager of the Enterprise Rent-a-Car facility. She replaces PETE ODUM, who has been promoted and reassigned to a St. Louis branch.

Company wins building award

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- RENEE SARGENT-HARRISON and DAN TILK of Sargent Construction received the Star Building Systems' Master Builder Best of manufacturing award at a recent national sales meeting in California.

Mungle cited for sales

KENNETT, Mo. -- KATHY SHELDON MUNGLE, a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Kennett, has received the Jack Phelan Award for her outstanding sales and service efforts over the past year.

Banker graduates

KENNETT, Mo. -- DANNY RAY of Kennett recently graduated from the Paul W. Barret Jr. School of Banking at Memphis, Tenn. Ray is employed with Southern Missouri Bank of Kennett.

Salesman awarded

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- KEVIN HUEY of Poplar Bluff has been named salesman of the Month at Larry Hillis Dodge. He has been with the dealership since October of 2005.

Sleep Center adds salesman

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Better Night Sleep Center has added JERRY DARBY to its staff. Darby was the voice of the Malden Green Wave for many years, and is a former manager of Mo-Ark Cellular Co.

Crader Receives Southeast Missouri Alumni Merit Award

R. David Crader was awarded the Southeast Missouri State Alumni Merit Award. Each year the university honors alumni who have brought distinction to the university and to themselves with the Alumni Merit Award. The recipients will be honored at Homecoming on Oct. 19 and 20, 2007.

Crader, a recipient from the School of Polytechnic Studies, received this special notification from Jane Stacy, director of Alumni Services at Southeast. Stacey visited the bank and interrupted a meeting to make the announcement to Crader. Stacey added, "Mr. Crader has been very supportive of the university serving on the Agriculture Committee as well as Lead Gifts Committee for the campus in Perryville.

John M. Thompson, president of The Bank of Missouri added, "Having had the opportunity to work side by side with David Crader for nearly a decade has been both an honor and a great experience. His ethics, discipline, and values professionally and personally make him a perfect recipient of this award. He is a friend to the university, the community, and the entire region."

In addition to Crader's efforts at the university, he serves as president of Teen Challenge Mid-America, secretary of Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation Board and vice president of the Missouri Independent Bankers Association. He also sits on the Missouri Veterans Home Board of Directors, the Missouri Veterans Home Foundation Board, the Booster Club of Southeast Missouri State University, the Boy Scouts of America National Council and the Perryville Development Corporation.

Interim chamber director named

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- JOHN STANARD has been chosen to serve as interim executive secretary of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Stanard is a former chairman of the chamber board of directors and was named citizen of the year in 1993.

Stanard, 66, will assist during the selection of a director to replace Ken Parrett, who resigned June 18 after serving two years to go into business for himself. Stanard is not a candidate for the permanent position.

Stanard serves as treasurer of the Poplar Bluff Public Library Board of Trustees and secretary of the Three Rivers Community College Board of Trustees. He is a former editor of the Daily American Republic.

Employees of the month

KENNETT, Mo. -- ARI of Kennett in June recognized DUSTIN BENSON of ARI/Custom and D. KEITH MIKEL of ARI as employees of the month, and JEFF CAMPBELL of ARI/Custom and TIM RAULS of ARI as safety employees of the month. In July, ARI awarded the recognitions to JAMES KULIN and NANCY HOLCOMB as ARI's safety employees of the month; and DALE GIBSON and MIKE STREET as employees of the month.

Advisor certified

DEXTER, Mo. -- DIAMOND W. WHEELER, an investment advisor representative at State Farm Investment Management Corporation has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., to use the certification marks CFP (Certified Financial Planner) in accordance with board certification and renewal requirements. Wheeler has been with State Farm since 1991 and specializes in comprehensive financial planning for individuals and business owners. The marks identify those individuals who have met the rigorous experience and ethical requirements, have successfully completed financial planning course work and have passed the CFP examination covering various areas of financial estate planning.

Tinsley joins Smith & Co.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Smith & Co. has announced the hiring of TRAVIS TINSLEY as a staff biologist. Tinsley is a 2007 graduate of the University of Missouri at Rolla where he received his maser of science degree in applied and environmental biology and a bachelor of science in biological sciences.

Tinsley will work as a project biologist and environmental project consultant in the Poplar Buff office.

Sports director named broadcaster of year

Erik Sean, director of sports operations for Mississippi River Radio in Cape Girardeau, was named play-by-play radio broadcaster of the year by the Missouri Broadcasters Association. Sean has won the award nine times and does the play-by-play broadcasts for Southeast Missouri State University football, baseball and men and women's basketball.

Three reappointed to state cotton board

Three farmers from the region were reappointed to the Missouri Cotton Growers' Organization Board of Directors last week by Gov. Matt Blunt. John Hux Jr. of Sikeston, Mo., a self-employed farmer, Charles Mayberry of Bernie, Mo., and Charles H. Parker of Senath, Mo., the owner-manager of Parker and Jones Farms, were all reappointed for terms ending June 26, 2010.

Cape resident starts direct-seller business

Amelia Burgess of Cape Girardeau has started an At Home America business as a direct seller of home-decorating accents. She joins a company that has been providing home decorating accessories for 25 years.

Stoner joins Tastefully Simple

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Toni Stoner has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple, Inc., a national direct-ales company featuring easy-to-prepare gourmet products. As a consultant she offers the company's gourmet foods and beverages to guests at home taste-testing parties.

Marsh named Depot director

SIKESTON -- After serving as interim director of the Sikeston Historic Depot for almost a year, Mike Marsh became the official director May 29.

He previously served on the Depot's Board of Directors for two years. He also worked with the Sikeston Little Theatre for 35 years, which he hopes will encourage cooperation.

"One of my biggest goals is for all the cultural organizations in the community to work more closely together," he said. He wants the Depot, Little Theatre, public library, school system and Historic Midtown Development Group to work together.

Marsh also has a personal goal: to get more involved with schools. "To bring them into us and for us to go out to them," he said. "Kids are what it's about."

Productive Staffing adds two

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- HEATHER LITTLE has joined the staff of Productive Staffing as a receptionist/customer service representative. Little was employed previously at Comfort Inn/Holiday Inn.

SCOTTI RUSHIN has returned to Productive Staffing as a full-time customer service representative. She previously worked seven years for the company as an on-site supervisor at Briggs & Stratton. She took an extended leave of absence after having had twin boys, who are now school age.

Smith & Company adds engineers

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Smith & Company has added two new civil engineering graduates to the company: JACOB ORTEGA, formerly of San Antonio, Tex., has joined as a design engineer. He is a 2007 graduate of the University of Texas.

GREG TARBUTTON of Little Rock, Ark., is a structural design engineer. He is a 2005 graduate of Arkansas State University and is originally from Wynne, Ark. He has experience working for Carter & Burgess Engineers of Little Rock and has worked a an engineer/intern for Arkansas Nuclear One in Russellville, Ark and Anderson Engineering of Jonesboro, Ark.

Woodmen rep attends training seminar

Modern Woodmen of America representative Bruce Qualls recently completed a three-day special needs coordinator training seminar at the company's home office in Rock Island, Ill. The training session covered business, estate and tax planning for small business owners and families with special needs.

Bob Miller named Missourian managing editor

The Southeast Missourian appointed former news editor and reporter Bob Miller to the new role of handling the day-to-day operations. Miller, 31, of Jackson, leaves a position as a page designer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to take on the role of managing editor.

Miller's 12-year journalism background includes a previous eight-year stint with the company, including a year as the news editor, where he oversaw the nightly production of the paper. As a writer covering sports, Cape Girardeau and Jackson government, Miller won numerous writing awards, mostly for in-depth series.

Miller's position will allow former managing editor Sam Blackwell to take over some new projects at the Missourian, including assisting in arts coverage.

Business recognizes longtime employees

DEXTER, Mo. -- American Steakhouse honored RANDY STARNES and CHARENE HEFLIN for longevity of service. Starnes has been with the restaurant for a combined total of 23 years; Heflin has worked there 16 years.

Contours Express owner goes to convention

Emily Stapleton, owner of Contours Express in Cape Girardeau, learned about new trends in the fitness industry at the Contours Express Women's Gym National Convention in Scottsdale, Ariz., during the week of July 18. She joined franchise owners representing more than 600 fitness clubs in the chain, which specializes in women's fitness. Seminars included presentations on improving their business, successful marketing strategies and learned about new CEO Jose I. Perez Jr.'s plans to expand the company to more than 1,000 locations in the next few years.

Broker achieves teaching certification

Gary Lange of American Financial Mortgage, 1427 Thomas St., has been certified to teach ethics and credit scoring by the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. He previously had completed requirements to teach classes on the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and fair lending. The recent convention of the national association focused on appraisal fraud and brokers and loan officers who have abused borrowers. The association is focusing on educating the public and educating members to protect credit scores and prevent identity theft.

Agent takes part in seminar

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Lee A. Bowman Jr. of Sikeston, a Modern Woodmen of America representative, participated in a three-day Specialized Needs Coordinator training meeting at Modern Woodmen's home office in Rock Island, Ill. The training session covered business, estate and tax planning for small business owners and families with special needs.

MBA recognizes area banker

ADVANCE, Mo. -- JERALDINE "JERRIE" BERRY, vice president, Bank of Advance, has been inducted into the 50-Year Club of the Missouri Bankers Association.

Each year, the MBA recognizes its members who have given 50 years of service to the banking industry.

Berry began her banking career at the Bank of Advance in 1957. She was one of four employees at the bank, and deposits totaled less than $2 million.

Berry now enjoys working part-time, and she says she considers the bank employees to be her family. She says her favorite part of working in banking has been "meeting so many people and forming lasting relationships with them.

Berry is one of 10 bankers who were honored at the organization's Annual Convention held during June 13 to 15 at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach.

The Missouri Bankers Association is a statewide trade and professional organization that represents the interests of 374 banks and savings and loans in Missouri. Its members have more than 30,000 employees who work in more than 1,900 locations throughout the state.

Assistant manager named at Capaha Bank

Capaha Bank promoted Jeanne Camden to assistant branch manager of the Kingshighway office. Camden has eight years' experience in the banking industry and was previously with Regions Bank before joining Capaha Bank in 2006. "Jeanne has done an outstanding job since joining the bank in 2006 and we are excited about the strength she will continue to add to the Capaha team as the new assistant manager," Lee Schlitt, branch manager of the Kingshighway facility, said in a news release. Camden, of Perryville, Mo., is pursuing an associate's degree at Mineral Area College.

The MMP's newest staff members offer increased programming services

The Missouri Mentoring Partnership welcomes two new youth specialists to its Young Parent Program, which serves Cape Girardeau and Bollinger Counties. Danielle Bellew, BSW, works with young moms and their mentors. The social work expertise she brings to the MMP is a valued asset. David Hines is developing dad-focused, mentor-based programming to encourage young fathers to be positive influences in their children's lives. Bellew and Hines are both graduates of Southeast Missouri State University.

Edward Jones office adds advisor

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Justin Taylor has joined the Edward Jones office of Judith Hobbs as a financial advisor. "I'm very impressed with Justin and I'm sure my clients will be, too," said Hobbs. "Edward Jones prides itself on providing the best service possible to those investors who choose to do business with us. Justin will help provide the high level of service investors in Sikeston have come to expect from us and extend our services to new investors as well." Taylor will work out of Hobbs' office over the next several months then will continue serving investors throughout the area.

CPU Inc. hires senior network engineer

CPU Inc. of 320 S. Plaza Way has added Mike Chaplin, originally of Olney, Ill., to its staff as a senior network engineer. Chaplin spent 20 years working for Unisys in the Philadelphia area. Chaplin's background is in network routing and switching.

Two agents achieve manager designation

Denise Glass of Perryville, Mo., and Jan McClanahan of Cape Girardeau, members of Re/Max Realty Experts, earned the certified real estate brokerage manager designation presented by the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers. The CRB is recognized industry wide as the measure of success for real estate brokers and managers. Those earning the designation have completed a comprehensive program combining experience with management education.

NORDENIA USA names August employee of the month

Prepress cylinder technician, Anthony Sandus, of Cape Girardeau, has been named NORDENIA USA'S August employee of the month. Sandus has been with NORDENIA since June 20, 2005. NORDENIA USA manufactures plastic packaging and films.

NORDENIA USA recognizes the following 5 year, 10 year, and 15 year anniversaries: 15 years of service, George Waldon; and five years of service, Kristel Priest.