SPARKS RECEIVES MISSOURI CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARD

Rick Sparks, University of Missouri Outreach and Extension business and industry specialist in Jackson, received the Missouri Chamber of Commerce Outreach and Extension Business Award. Dan Mehan, Missouri chamber president, presented the award Oct. 24 during University Outreach and Extension's annual conference.

Sparks works with businesses and entrepreneurs in southeast Missouri to start and grow successful enterprises. Sparks also presents workshops on such topics as basic supervision, home-based businesses, pricing products and services, and dealing with on-the-job conflicts. Many programs are delivered in cooperation with the Small Business Development Centers at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo.

Sparks is outreach and extension representative to the local citizens in a 16-county area of Southeast Missouri where he provides no cost confidential business assistance.

University Outreach and Extension links people throughout the state with Outreach and Extension links people throughout the state with educational programs and research information from the four campuses of the University of Missouri System and Lincoln University.