Thompson hired as director or external affairs

DEXTER, Mo. — Brian Thompson, formerly of Dexter, has been hired as director of external affairs for the Cross County, Ark., Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corp., in Wynne, Ark. Thompson is a 1999 graduate of Dexter High School. He received an associate degree from Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff in 2001 and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Arkansas State University in 2003. He began his new duties June 23. Previously he had been managing editor of the Wynne Progress and the East Arkansas News-Leader newspaper. He formerly worked at the Dexter Daily Statesman.

Company adds designer

Inspired Creations has added interior designer Cara Thompson to its design team. Thompson brings 35 years of construction and design experience to the business, a division of Gibson Services and Enterprises, LLC.

Regions Bank promotes Southeast graduate

Sandy Crites was named commercial relationship manager for the Southeast Missouri region of Regions Bank. Before her promotion, Crites held a variety of positions in the financial institution, working in loan processing and credit administration. Crites holds a bachelor's of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from Southeast Missouri State University.

Salon manager gets high honor

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Amanda Foster, manager of the JC Penney Salon inside the JC Penney Department Store at 515 South Westwood, received the company's Champion Award in honor of the salon's outstanding performance in 2007.

Champion Awards were presented to the managers of 81 top-performing JC Penney Salons at an awards ceremony held in Kissimmee, Fla. Less than 10 percent of all JC Penney Salons qualified for Champion Awards based on their sales and profit performance for the year.

Christian is Top Lister

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Diane Christian has been named Top Lister for April by Poplar Bluff Realty, Inc. Christian is a licensed real estate agent and accredited staging professional. She and her husband, Bob, live in Poplar Bluff.

Yarbro, Littles lead Coldwell

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Paul Arnold with Coldwell Banker Realty announces Laura Jane Yarbro is its Top Producer and Brock Littles its Top Lister for May.

Yarbro was born and raised in Poplar Bluff. She is a full-time real estate agent who follows in the footsteps of her grandfather and mother. Yarbro is a 2004 graduate from Missouri State University in Springfield with a master's degree in business administration. She is the daughter of Donna Holloway and Larry Busby. Her husband, Mark Yarbro, is employed with Coffman & Company. She enjoys party planning, golfing and shopping.

Littles has worked at the local agency since January 2006. He attended Three Rivers Community College and obtained his degree from Southwest Baptist University in 1999. He is a member of the Three Rivers Board of Realtors and currently serves as a State Director for the membership. He has also recently been elected to serve on the Poplar Bluff Kiwanis Club Board of Directors as well as the Three Rivers Community College Booster Club Board. Littles is also a member of the Greater Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce.

Littles and his wife, Julie, have a 3-year-old son, Jace.

Julie Spencer leads RE/MAX

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — RE/MAX Real Estate Group has announced Julie Spencer as Top Lister and Top Producer for May.

Spencer has been a Realtor since November 1998. She earned the Top Producer award for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005, and 2006. She has received the RE/MAX Executive Club, President's Award and for the last five years the RE/MAX 100% Club Award. She is a member of the Three Rivers Board of Realtors and the Missouri and National Association of Realtors. She's earned the Pinnacle Level of Award of Excellence and the Gold Level of Award of Excellence. She has her CRS and GRI designations and is a member of the Council of Residential Specialists.

She has a daughter, Samantha, who is attending Three Rivers Community College and one son, Derek, a junior at Poplar Bluff High School.

McCoy, Nagell lead American Realty

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Melba Jean McCoy has been named Top Lister and Carissa Nagell the Top Producer for April at Century 21 American Realty.

McCoy is a member of the Missouri Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, and Three Rivers Board of Realtors. She has earned the Award of Excellence and has been a Million Dollar Producer for the past several years.

McCoy is also a member of the AMVETS, VFW and American Legion 153 auxiliaries and the RSVP Chorus. She is experienced in listing and selling all types of real estate.

Nagell is from Poplar Bluff and has spent most of her life in Southeast Missouri. She has been married to Shane Nagell of Nagell Construction, LLC for almost seven years. This past winter, they had a boy. She has been in real estate for almost three years. Nagell has been a recipient of the Award of Excellence for the last two years and is an active member in the Three Rivers Board of Realtors, the Missouri Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Students to participate in Missouri Business Week

Students from two area high schools were selected to participate in the 23rd annual Missouri Business Week held June 29 to July 3 in Columbia, Mo. Kayla Essner, Tara Meyer and Sean Mills represented Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau while Shane Voshage and Haleigh Sternicke represented Jackson High School. The students joined more than 160 students from 100-plus Missouri high schools for five days of experiencing the world of business through a realistic marketing and management simulation.

Wells Fargo appoints mortgage specialist

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has appointed Larry Reiminger of Cape Girardeau to the position of reverse mortgage specialist. He will work exclusively from the Cape Girardeau branch at 1131 N. Kingshighway with senior homeowners seeking a reverse mortgage, a home finance program that allows homeowners to use their home equity to supplement retirement income.

LaBruyere joins Coldwell Banker

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Coldwell Banker Hulsey Real Estate is pleased to welcome Heather LaBruyere as their newest agent.

LaBruyere is a Central High School graduate. She also graduated from Mineral Area College with a business degree. She and her husband Joe live in Desloge and have two daughters, Claudia and Emilia.

Cook named First State Community Bank president

BONNE TERRE, Mo. — First State Community Bank (FSCB) Chairman Bill Cooper and Vice Chairman and chief executive officer Greg Allen recently announced that Kevin Cook has been named president of the Bonne Terre and Terre du Lac banks.

"We're very fortunate to have a strong leader who could step up to the plate after Jim Eaton retired," Allen commented. "Kevin is a highly respected banker in St. Francois County. He knows banking inside and out, and customers feel very comfortable doing business with him. Jim Eaton did an outstanding job of helping Kevin with this transition."

Cook resides in Bonne Terre on his family's century old farm with his wife, Jane, where they raise cattle and horses. They have two daughters: Melissa Bollinger of Farmington and Sarah McFarland of Terre du Lac. Cook and his wife own the Oasis Christian Bookstore and Coffee shop in Farmington.

Cook has more than 30 years of banking experience, and he has been a part of the FSCB team for 17 years. When he isn't serving as a banker, farmer or business-owner, Cook enjoys hunting, fishing and playing sports. He is also actively involved with the St. Francois County Industrial Development Authority and he serves on the Board of Directors at Parkland Health Center.

Alliance bank names bank president, CEO

Alliance Bank, 217 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, has named Kevin Greaser as community bank president and senior commercial lender for its Cape Girardeau branch and elected Cord Polen as chief executive officer of the company. Greaser most recently was a vice president with Regions Bank. In addition to his new role as CEO, Polen also will be serving in his previous role as president of the Cape Girardeau market.

Sean named radio broadcaster of the year

Erik Sean of Cape Girardeau has been named 2008 play-by-play radio broadcaster of the year by the Missouri Broadcasters Association. The play-by-play radio announcer for Southeast Missouri State University football, basketball and baseball, this is Sean's tenth time to win the award. In addition to his duties at Southeast, Sean also is director of sports operations for Mississippi River Radio's eight stations in Cape Girardeau. Sean and his wife, Bobbi, have a 4-year-old daughter, Chloe, and are expecting another baby girl later this month.

Jackson resident given trip to Spain for work

Donna Miller of Jackson received a trip to Spain for her performance as a sales manager for Avon, a beauty product direct-sell corporation. Miller also was one of 1,400 people to win Avon's Circle of Excellence, an award given to the top 10 percent of district sales managers with the largest sales increase in their respective area.

Veterans home gets new administrator

Hal Dulle, executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission, announced Tuesday that Viviane Rains will be the new administrator of the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

Rains will take over the administrator position from Jan Rau, who accepted another position within the Missouri Veterans Commission.

Rains has 13 years of experience with the veterans commission and has spent the last six years as the assistant administrator at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James, Mo.

As an administrator in Cape Girardeau, Rains will be responsible for many of the day-to-day activities in running the home, such as taking care of residents and resolving staff-related issues, according to Daniel Bell of the Missouri Veterans Commission.

Bank elects Jackson man as vice chairman

Midwest Independent Bank has elected David Crader of Jackson as vice chairman of the organization's board of directors. Crader also serves as chief executive officer of the Bank of Missouri's Jackson branch at 233 W. Jackson Blvd. Located in Jefferson City, Mo., Midwest Independent Bank is a financial institution specifically for the use of bankers.

@Headline - Subhead Small:Concepts Styling Salon adds hair designer

Concepts Styling Salon, 107 West Drive in Cape Girardeau, had added Jeff Green to its team. Green is in his 26th year as a hair care designer.

@Headline - Subhead Small:Houchins attends Woodmen seminar

Robert Houchins of Jackson has completed a five-day educational program at Modern Woodmen of America's home office in Rock Island, Ill. The program focused on helping families with Modern Woodmen life insurance plans, annuities and fraternal member benefits. Houchins started working as a full-time representative for the agency in March.

Miller promoted to managing partner

ABC Supply Co. has promoted Stan Miller of Jackson to managing partner of its Cape Girardeau location, 2340 Rusmar St. Miller had served as manager of the Cape Girardeau branch since 2004. Founded in 1982, ABC Supply is a wholesale distributor of roofing.

@Headline - Subhead Small:Eck receives President's Recognition IIAP award

Petty Eck of Cape Girardeau was given the President's Recognition Award for service to the Missouri Division of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. An academic affairs support specialist in the Office of the Provost at Southeast Missouri State University, Eck was chosen from a group of 20 finalists for her contributions on the IIAP's Administrative Professionals Week proclamation signing in Jefferson City, Mo. The Missouri division of the organization has 805 members.

Employees of the month

SIKESTON, Mo. — Adren "A.J." Payne and Judith McLemore have been recognized as employees of the month at Sikeston Health Care. Payne is a certified nursing assistant and has worked at SHC for a year. McLemore is a licensed practical nurse with 17 years experience. She has been with SHC for a year.

New therapist

SIKESTON, Mo. — Dena Klingel is now working at Antonio's Salon s a certified massage therapist. Klingel is 2007 graduate of Metro Business College in Cape Girardeau.

Administrator retires

KENNETT, Mo. — Patty Webb, administrator for National Healthcare in Kennett, was honored recently for her 26 years of service. Webb, a registered nurse, is retiring from NHC, but will continue to volunteer there and fill in when needed.

Rinehart inducted

DEXTER, Mo. — Farmers Insurance Group has chosen Mike Rinehart to be inducted into the Farmers' "Topper Cub" of the company's top sales producers. Rinehart has been recognized for his outstanding sales achievements in 2007.

NORDENIA USA honors employees

Press operator, Darrin Revelle, of Altenburg, Mo., has been named NORDENIA USA'S July employee of the month. Revelle has been with NORDENIA since Aug. 4, 1993. Denise Steinert has been honored for 10 years of service. Roger Carney has been honored for five years.

Flannigan awarded

DEXTER, Mo. — Charlie Flannigan of Dexter has been awarded the Managing Partner's Award for Edward Jones. Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors.

Parker receives master's degree in banking

Geoff Parker of Cape Girardeau has received a master's degree from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Parker completed a three-year program covering aspects of banking, economics and related subjects. Parker is vice president of First Missouri State Bank, 2 S. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau.

Campbell native opens law office

CAMPBELL, Mo. — Brian D. Risley, a Campbell native, has opened a law practice in Springfield, Mo. He is taking over the law practice of Andy Hodges, who retired after more than 20 years of practice in the field of personal injury. Risley will focus on personal injury, family law, juvenile law and federal criminal defense.

Risley worked as an associate for Hodges the last 2 1/2 years. Prior to that, he worked as an associate at Franke, Schultz & Mullen for one year and spent two years as an assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Greene County. He also clerked for Judge Robert S. Barney of the Southern District Court of Appeals, and worked in Poplar Bluff as an assistant prosecutor and a public defender.

Risley was born and raised in Campbell and completed his undergraduate degree at Southeast Missouri State University, while earning his law degree from the University of Mississippi in December of 1998. He has lived in Springfield for the last seven years with his wife, Cordellia (Whiteside). He has been a member of the Missouri Bar since April 16, 1999.

Bank names Southeast Missouri market president

Terry Tuschhoff of Jackson was named Bank of America's Southeast Missouri market president. His role will include strengthening communication and integration of the bank's customers while reaching out to local not-for-profit groups to help address needs of the community. A graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Tuschhoff will continue his current role as community bank executive of the Jackson branch. at 320 W. Main Street.

Cape hair and nail salon adds stylist

Laura Richards has joined the styling team of All About You hair and nail salon, 1750 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. The stylist has been in the hair and nail care business for five years.

Salon gives promotions to five staff members

Elements Salon and Spa, 2031 Cape LaCroix Road in Cape Girardeau, has promoted five staff members to the position of beauty consultants. Denise Merideth, Ashley Taylor, Courtney Gerard, Kate Gabriel and Danielle Moffit received training and certification this month from Bare Escentuals cosmetic representatives, based in Chicago.

Medical Center recognizes employees

SIKESTON, Mo.— Missouri Delta Medical center recognized its employee of the month, employee of the year and manager of the year recently.

Joanne Ellison in laboratory was named employee of the month. Employee of the year is Leonard Robinson, who has worked in the maintenance department the past 18 years.

Manager of the year is Michelle Manning, who is the nurse manager in the dialysis department.

Cape man elected to serve on tourism board

The Missouri Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus has elected Chuck Martin of Cape Girardeau as its secretary of its board of directors. He is one of four officers who will serve as officers of the state board from July 1 to June 30, 2009. Martin is executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, 400 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Based in St. Joseph, the Missouri Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus promotes and develops sustainable economic growth of travel on behalf of its member bureaus and their communities.

Werning completes training

BONNE TERRE, Mo. — Lisa Werning of Bonne Terre, an advisor with lia sophia completed training at Unit Manager University (UMU).

The two-day program, created exclusively for entry-level field managers, takes place in Rosemont, Ill. and offers advisors a chance to enhance their business through various management disciplines.

Lia sophia is a fashion jewelry company that offers a wide array of selections through in-home demonstrations. It is committed to connecting women to their dreams, from obtaining trendy jewelry to obtaining advisors, hostesses and customers an extensive line of high-quality products and an unparalleled opportunity to run their own businesses.