Names in the news

Brown attends CRM course

KENNETT, Mo. -- Charlie Brown, president of Baker, Welman and Brown Insurance and Financial Services, has successfully completed the Financing of Risk course held at the Sheraton in St. Louis City Center Hotel in St. Louis. The course was one of the five parts offered by the Certified Risk Managers International. After successful completion of al five courses and five comprehensive examinations, Brown will be designated the CRM by the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research, the nation's foremost provider of professional insurance and education.

New managers at power plant

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Roger Neumeyer has been named plant manager of the New Madrid Power Plant, operated by the Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. He has been acting plant manager since September and worked as assistant plant manager from June to September of 2007. Previously he was the plant's performance manager. He has 18 years experience with AECI, having joined New Madrid Power Plant in 1989 as a chemical lab technician. He has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin and a master's degree in business administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.

Scott Harry has been named assistant plant manager. He has transferred from Thomas Hill Energy Center, where he was project coordinator of the plant's large environmental controls construction project. Harry joined AECI in 1978 as a mechanic at Thomas Hill. He has worked in various capacities since then, including mechanical maintenance supervisor, maintenance planner, and senior combustion turbine specialist, the latter at Holden Power Plant. He has a bachelor's degree in management and a master's degree in business administration from William Woods.

Employees retire from New Madrid Power Plant

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Al Finnell, former electrical maintenance superintendent at New Madrid Power Plant has retired after 23 years with Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., which operates the plant. During his career at New Madrid, Finnell experienced the conversion to low-sulfur coal from Wyoming and the addition of millions of dollars of new environmental controls to protect air quality.

Terry Lee, former journeyman instrumentation technician specialist at New Madrid Power Plant, has retired after nearly 34 years with Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. which operates the plant.

He started at New Madrid as a temporary storeroom clerk in the early 1970s and worked his way through warehouse positions to the instrument shop. What stated as a mechanical job is one that today relies on computers.

Byers to participate in Greater Little Rock leadership program

KENNETT, Mo. -- Jeff Byers, vice president of Mainstream Technologies, was chosen to participate in the 2007-2008 Leadership Greater Little Rock, Ark. program. Byers is the son of George and Betty Byers of Deering, Mo. He joined Mainstream Technologies in 1997. He is a 1988 graduate of Delta High School in Deering and holds a degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Taylor joins Tastefully Simple

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Chris Taylor of Poplar Bluff has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple, Inc., a national direct-sales company featuring easy-to-prepare gourmet foods.

Real estate companies hire new agents

Divine Homes Realty and Commercial Real Estate Specialist Inc. announced the addition of two new agents. Jane Perry is a licensed real estate agent for Divine Homes. She is also chief operating officer of Buellis Construction, a builder of custom homes. Brandon Farmer has joined the staff of Commercial Real Estate Specialist Inc. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Farmer is also a reserve officer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Salon owner, aesthetician complete training course

Danea Johnson, owner of Concepts Styling Salon in Cape Girardeau, announced she has completed extensive training on Bare Escentuals Cosmetics and md Formulations skincare in Chicago along with aesthetician Jessie Eck.

Ad director selected as predecessor moves on

Gera LeGrand, retail advertising manager at the Southeast Missourian, has taken over as advertising director. LeGrand replaces Adam Burnham, who has moved to an executive position with the Journal-Register Co. based in Yardley, Pa. LeGrand will continue her duties as retail advertising manager. Burnham has been instrumental in leading many important changes in the advertising department, publisher Jon Rust said, and LeGrand's elevation will continue that momentum.

Real estate agent given new designation

Brenda Miller of Re/Max Realty Experts of Cape Girardeau has received the master of real estate designation from the Missouri Association of Realtors. The award recognizes Miller's completion of several advanced real estate education courses.

Simpson promoted at NORDYNE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Greg Simpson, manager of the NORDYNE plant since it opened seven years ago in Poplar Bluff, has been promoted to senior director of North American operations, and Dan Pilon has been named as the new plant manager.

"I will oversee the operations of the four NORDYNE plants in the United States," Simpson said. NORDYNE also has plants at Boonville and Tipton in Missouri and in Dyersburg, Tenn.

Pilon has worked in five other Nortek plants, which is the parent company of NORDYNE. He and his wife, Deb, moved to Poplar Bluff in early December from Oklahoma City. He had previously worked near Green Bay.

Simpson will help Pilon during the transition process for about two months. Then Simpson and his wife, Kerry, and son, Alex, will move to O'Fallon where NORDYNE's headquarters are located.

"I'm excited about my new opportunities, but it will be hard to leave a successful operation I was part of establishing in Poplar Bluff and growing here for seven years," Simpson said.

During Simpson's career in Poplar Bluff, the NORDYNE plant was expanded from 445,000 square feet to 725,000 square feet in 2005. In addition to its 28-acre plant site, NORDYNE also purchased five acres on the south side of Cravens Road for truck parking.

As NORDYNE's sales and production increased, employment at the Poplar Bluff plant grew from 350 in the first year to a peak employment of 930 during 2007, according to Simpson.

"The plant is working well. There are good workers making good products," Simpson said.

Martin going to culinary school

Julie Martin, sous chef at Mollies Cafe and Bar has been accepted in to a 15-month training program at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. Mollies's chef Doug Becker is a graduate of the institute, and he was instrumental in obtaining a slot there for Martin, said owner Brian Noto.

"It is the top program in the country," he said. "There is no better school.

"These people, when coming out, go into the top places, the top hotels around the world," he said. "They are vetted for much more than culinary aptitude."

Noto said he will keep a place at his restaurant for Martin when she finishes the course and that Martin will provide updates about her progress for the restaurant's online newsletter.

Alliance hires Fowler as department director

Alliance Bank of Cape Girardeau added Lori Fowler as the director of risk assessment, bank president Cord Polen announced. Fowler will oversee the bank's internal auditing and regulatory compliance and review customers' credit quality. Fowler has 18 years' experience in banking with US Bank and its predecessors, and most recently was the owner and broker for Area Properties Real Estate in Sikeston, Mo.

Brice Sechrest joins McManaman law office

The law offices of Kenneth C. McManaman LLC added Brice Sechrest as an associate lawyer. Sechrest received his undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University and his law degree from Southern Illinois University and was recently admitted to the Missouri Bar.

Baugh, Whitledge take posts at area NASV

The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence has added Beth Baugh as a victim's advocate and Kara Whitledge as a resource development specialist. Baugh will be responsible for working with victims of sexual or other physical abuse. Whitledge will handle fundraising and grant writing for the agency.

SEMO Ready Mix names Morgan as supervisor

SEMO Ready Mix Inc. announced that Dan Morgan has been named plant supervisor for the Advance-Puxico area. Morgan brings 19 years' experience in the concrete business to his new position, the company's news release said.

Griffin completes specialist certification

Kyle Griffin of Cape Girardeau has completed the tests of the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Specialists. Griffin is employed by Miracle-Ear Center at 1465 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

Real estate council names McClanahan president

Jan McClanahan of Re/Max Realty Experts in Cape Girardeau was elected 2008 state president for the Council of Real Estate Specialists. McClanahan has served as secretary, treasurer and vice president of the organization. She has 16 years' experience in the real estate business.

Area agent honored by Realtors association

The Missouri Association of Realtors presented Sheila King of Realty Executives of Cape County with an award thanking her for her service during the past year as president of the Cape Girardeau Board of Realtors. The award was presented at a recent luncheon in Cape Girardeau by association President Dennis McClelland.

Buchheit graduates realty service training

Cheryl Buchheit of Realty Executives of Cape County was awarded the designation of graduate, Realtor Institute, by the Missouri Association of Realtors. The designation is awarded after completing 90 hours of education outlined by the National Association of Realtors.

King completes online assistance course

Sheila King of Realty Executives of Cape County recently completed the Realtor e-Pro course to earn certification in providing online customer assistance from the National Association of Realtors. The course is designed to keep Realtors abreast of changing technology and identify and implement new Internet business models.

NORDENIA USA names January employee of the month

Slitter Operator, Ronnie Moyers, of Jackson has been named NORDENIA USA's January employee of the month. Moyers has been with NORDENIA since July 15, 1991. NORDENIA USA manufactures plastic packaging and films.