Names in the news

Financial representative wins planning award

D. Joseph McKeon, a financial representative for 27 years with Northwestern Mutual Financial Networks, received the 2007 Missouri Insurance and Financial Planner of the Year award at the annual convention of the Missouri Association of Insurance and Financial Planners in Columbia, Mo. The award recognizes McKeon both for his work in the community and his accomplishments in his industry. McKeon is a member of the Foundation Board of Southeast Missouri Hospital and the board of the St. Louis Council Boy Scouts of America. He received the financial adviser of the year award three times from his local association, most recently in 2006.

Brokerage firm names area man to board

The Daniel and Henry Co. of St. Louis announced the addition of Kurt N. May of Cape Girardeau County to its board of directors. The company, one of the largest privately owned insurance brokerage firms in the country, opened a satellite office in Cape Girardeau last year.

Sales director earns diamond, amethyst ring

Future executive senior sales director Jana Jateff of Cape Girardeau was honored in Dallas by Mary Kay Cosmetics with inclusion in the national queens court of sales. Jateff earned a diamond and amethyst ring for selling more than $47,000 worth of retail cosmetics for the year. Jateff has been a sales representative for Mary Kay Cosmetics for more than 25 years; this year's recognition marks her 12th appearance in the national court of sales.

Two SEMO grads join mentoring partnership

Two new teens specialists joined the Missouri Mentoring Partnership's Young Parent Program serving Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties. Danielle Bellew, who holds a bachelor's degree in social work, works with young mothers and their mentors. David Hines is developing a father-focused program to encourage young fathers to be positive influences in their children's lives. Bellew and Hines are graduates of Southeast Missouri State University.

Woodmen of America name top rookie

Bruce Qualls, Jackson district representative with Modern Woodmen of America, was named Rookie of the Month for July. The award is given to full-time representatives who have been with Modern Woodmen of America for less than three years and are leading the agency in production. Qualls became full time with the Modern Woodmen's Rainwater Agency in Farmington, Mo., in October 2005.

Two added to salon staff

Sun-Sations Hair and Tanning Studio in Fruitland added two new staff members in late July. Lindsey Kielas, who was employed at Just Teasin' in Cape Girardeau, and Carie O'Connell, who was previously employed at J.C. Penney, will be providing hair care and manicures at the salon owned by Tina Burger. Kielas and O'Connell join staffers Alisa VanGennip, Melanie Penrod and Kristen Deck.

Area man completes sales, marketing training

Rob Johnson of the Daniel and Henry Co. in Cape Girardeau completed the Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Co.'s Elite Signature Partners Sales and Marketing training.

Rural Development staff attend training

The Jackson office personnel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program recently attended a training session on the Community Facility Guaranteed Loan program at the Missouri State office in Columbia, Mo. Randal D. Friend, rural development manager, Debra Baker, rural development assistant and Randy L. Flowers, rural development technician took part in the training to provide better service in the program that provides guaranteed financing through private lenders for rural communities to meet the basic needs of residents.

Stylist joins staff at local salon

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Shannon Blanchard has joined the staff of High Definitions Beauty Salon, 105 Campanella Drive in Sikeston.

Blanchard, who has four years experience as a hair stylist, specializes in haircuts, color and highlights, wax, perms and updos.

Her hours at the salon are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and by appointment. Walk-in clients are welcomed.

To make an appointment contact Blanchard at telephone number 471-0223.

Aire Serve recognizes employees

Aire Serve recently recognized TIM FUNKE and mean tucker of the Aire Serve of the Heartland franchise during its 2007 annual conference in Atlanta, Ga.

Funke was awarded the Excellence in Leadership award. Tucker received the Woman of the Year award.

Wood & Huston Bank hires loan officer

Scott Haney has joined the staff of Wood & Huston Bank as a commercial loan officer, Cape Girardeau Community Bank President Clint Karnes announced. Haney has four years of lending, management and financial sales experience and is a 2003 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University.

MMP Teens Specialist Celebrates Five Years with Program

The Missouri Mentoring Partnership has honored Nikki Wolfe for her five years of services. Beginning as an administrative assistant for the partnership, she now serves as a teens specialist for the Young Parent Program. Wolfe works with young moms and their mentors in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger Counties, and has been essential in expanding the program through outreach efforts in Bollinger County. She is also is in charge of programming for monthly events held in both counties.

Commerce Bank names Bartels to VP post

Commerce Bank, Southeast Missouri Region, announced that Wade "Pee Wee" Bartels has been promoted to vice president. Bartels joined Commerce Bank in 2005 and is responsible for helping commercial clients grow their businesses by offering customized financial and loan solutions. Bartels has four years of business and banking experience and holds a bachelor of science in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Miget named Buchheit assistant store manager

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Buchheit of Perryville has announced the promotion of Lori Miget to assistant store manager. Miget has been employed by the Buchheit organization for 11 years and has worked as a cashier, customer service manager, buying support office staff member, corporate trainer and, most recently, department manager. Miget is married to Eric Miget and they have a daughter, Alivia. They live in Perryville.

Rental Land employee gets $3,000 scholarship

An employee of Rental Land, 1922 Independence St., deserves congratulations for landing a $3,000 scholarship from American Rental Association Insurance Services. Jennifer Kasten of Pocahontas, a student at Southeast Missouri State University, is pursuing a career in the equipment rental industry. Rental Land is owned by her father, Mark Kasten, and her grandfather, Eugene Kasten. The scholarships are awarded based on academic and leadership achievements, rental industry involvement, a written essay on the applicant's future plans in the rental industry and references.

Eden Salon brings in three new stylists

The Eden Salon & Boutique, 97 N. Kingshighway, Suite No. 4, added three new stylists in July. Beth Sterling, who is also a nail technician, and Sarah Marra moved to Eden Salon in the first week of the month and Courtney ThompsoN, fresh from styling school, began working in July. Eden Salon opened May 15 and is owned by Tina Schumer, formerly of Techniques. When the salon opened, Schumer was joined by Martha Parson, Joanie Foeste, Cammie Seabaugh and Janet Kluesner.

Jones promoted to operations supervisor

Michelle Jones has been promoted to Operations Supervisor for The Bank of Missouri, North Kingshighway location.

Jones has been at The Bank of Missouri for nearly 10 years and has 16 years of banking experience. She is involved with the PTO at Clippard Elementary, Relay for Life, and is a member of Lynwood Baptist Church

Farm bureau announces new agent

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Matthew Winchester of Sikeston was recently appointed as a career agent in Scott County with Farm Bureau Insurance.

Winchester completed two weeks of training emphasizing life, accident/health and property and casualty insurance. He is in the local Farm Bureau office at 1901 E Malone Ave. in Sikeston.

City names new director for development services

Ken Eftink has been named Cape Girardeau's new development services director. He replaces Kent Bratton, the city planner who retired July 31.

The job is slightly different: It's an expanded department-head position leading divisions for planning, engineering and inspections.

A graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri Academy for Leadership in Local Governance, Eftink, with his wife Becky, have relocated to Cape Girardeau.

Former banker starts consulting service

Jennifer Hendrickson has struck out on her own, leaving Capaha Bank as chief financial officer and marketing director to create Hendrickson Business Advisors, providing management and marketing consulting services. Hendrickson aims to provide affordable advice and project development to companies that don't have the resources or necessary expertise to do the job in-house, she said in a news release. The company will be co-owned by Rhett Hendrickson, her husband, who is also employed at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Ryan Hendrickson, Rhett Hendickson's brother, will provide help developing Web sites and databases.

Southeast Missouri Hospital hires Bliss

Long-time Southeast Missourian reporter Mark Bliss has joined the marketing department of Southeast Missouri Hospital as writer and editor. Bliss, who left the Southeast Missourian after 28 years, will be producing articles for the hospital's quarterly magazine and internal publications. Bliss will also handle media inquiries.

Area lawyer re-elected to state bar governors

Cape Girardeau lawyer Matthew W. Mocherman was one of 17 lawyers who was re-elected to the Missouri Bar Board of Governors in recent balloting. Lawyers throughout the state participated, voting by districts for the 20-member board. The board members took office at the conclusion of the 2007 Missouri Bar annual meeting in September in Springfield, Mo.

Worley wins awards; Edmonds promoted

Ben Worley, financial adviser with the Dexter office of Edward Jones, won two company awards and announced the promotion of an employee of the company. Worley won the Jack Phelan Award for outstanding sales and service and the 2006 Century Award for outstanding performance during 2006. The promotion went to Becky Edmonds, who was named senior branch office administrator. Edmonds has been employed with Edward Jones for almost four years. Edward Jones is a Missouri-grown company based in St. Louis that provides financial services for individual investors through more than 10,000 financial advisers.

Area man wins award at national banquet

Rick Shultz of Jackson won the fourth diamond in his Maintenance Engineering Ltd. gold ring for sales exceeding $1.5 million for the distributor of lighting products. Shultz also retained his position in the vice-president's club, recognizing the top 20 sales representatives, for the eighth consecutive year. Shultz ranked 13th in the national sales force. The awards were announced at the company's national awards banquet in Fargo, N.D. Shultz has been with the company for more than 10 years and serves as the regional manager for the tri-state area.

Lange becomes certified mortgage specialist

Mortgage broker Gary Lange, owner of American Financial Mortgage, 1427 Thomas Drive in Cape Girardeau, passed the National Association of Mortgage Brokers certification examination to become a certified residential mortgage specialist. The certification is based on experience and knowledge, and holders of the certification must abide by a specific code of ethics. Lange, a mortgage broker for eight years, is currently vice-president of the Missouri Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Jackson hair, tanning studio adds to staff

Shelly Schamburg joins Sun-Sations Hair & Tanning Studio in Jackson beginning Wednesday. Schamburg will be providing manicures, pedicures, acrylics and hair care.

Town and Country Realty closes, joins Exit Realty

Exit Realty's Tom Meyer announced that real estate broker Barbara Baker is closing her Town and Country Realty operation to join his firm. . The change isn't a merger as much as Baker and her associates "simply closing their office and becoming broker associates or sales people with my firm," Meyer said.

CASA gets new executive director

Revonda Kirby has joined Court Appointed Special Advocates as executive director. Kirby will lead the agency that provides trained, court-appointed volunteer advocates to serve as independent monitors and advocates for abused and neglected children in and out of foster care, under the jurisdiction of the courts. Kirby relocated with her family to the Cape Girardeau area in 2006 and most recently was the family resource center coordinator for the New Madrid County Human Resources Council Community Partnership. Kirby holds a J.D. degree from the University of Mississippi and a bachelor of science in political science and education from the University of Tennessee-Martin.

Bank names new vice president

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Darrell Ray has joined Focus Bank as vice president of lending at the Charleston main bank. Ray, who has more than 14 years of banking experience, previously worked as Vice President with First Midwest Bank in Sikeston. He has also been employed as a bank examiner with the Missouri Division of Finance. A graduate of the LSU School of Banking, Ray is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in finance. Ray and his wife Liz Bone Ray reside with their two children in Charleston. FOCUS Bank is headquartered in Charleston, where two branches are located. Other Missouri branches are located in Cardwell, Caruthersville, East Prairie, Hornersville, and Sikeston.

Kneer receives new title, duties at newspaper

The Southeast Missourian added a new title and gave more responsibilities to Mark Kneer, a 13-year employee who is circulation manager for the Missourian, the Banner Press in Marble Hill and the Scott County Signal and circulation consultant for all 52 Rust Communications newspapers. Kneer will now also hold the title of Building Operations Director. Kneer handled oversight duties during the renovation project at the Missourian building, 301 Broadway. He will oversee building maintenance, cleaning and security at 301/307 Broadway and other local Rust Communications properties.

BKD announces staff promotions

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Bradley S. Gregg, a former Sikeston resident, is now a senior accountant with BKD, LLP's Springfield office. Gregg graduated magna cum laude in 2005 from Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau with a B.S. degree in business administration. The son of Debbie Wilburn of Sikeston, he provides tax services for nursing facility clients. BKD, LLP (www.bkd.com) is the CPA and advisory firm for growing companies and high net-worth individuals. As one of the 10 largest such firms in the country and one of the largest in Southern Missouri, it helps clients with technical expertise, unmatched client service and disciplined delivery of solutions to their management and financial needs.