Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce presents awards at annual dinner

Leet EyeCare was named Small Business of the Year at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Friday at the Show Me Center. The Rush H. Limbaugh Award was presented to Janet Esicar, vice president at First Missouri State Bank.

One of the most remarkable facts about Leet EyeCare is it has experienced growth of more than 65 percent in the last five years, said Dr. James Stapleton, director of the Southeast Missouri State University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, who presented the award.

Dr. Gregory Leet took ownership of Leet EyeCare in 1987. The company dates back to the 1940s.

From left are Dr. Kory Thoma, Dr. Laura Evans and Dr. Greg Leet of Leet Eye Care, Small Business of the Year Award winner, and Janet Esicar of First Missouri State Bank, Rush H. Limbaugh Award winner. (Melissa Miller)

Leet said when starting his career he just wanted to give people eye exams, write their prescriptions and let them go elsewhere to get their contacts or glasses, but colleague Richard Kies challenged him to examine how much revenue glasses and contacts accounted for.

"We aren't taught to be businessmen in optometry school," Leet said. "The reason we go to optometry school is because we couldn't sell anything to anybody."

He brought on associates Dr. Laura R. Evans in 1999 and Dr. Kory P. Thoma in 2002.

"Our growth has so much to do with them, their ideas and them pushing to raise the bar," Leet said.

The business grew into a partnership in 2005 and in 2010 expanded with another associate, Dr. J.T Hall, and acquisition of Hall Eye Center.

Leet EyeCare has 11 full-time, two part-time and two temporary student employees at its two sites. Leet EyeCare was voted No. 1 in the 2009 and 2010 Southeast Missourian's People's Choice Awards.

Its staff was recognized for its community service through the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Optometric Association, Missouri Optometric Association, American Optometric Association and Vision Source, a national network of private practice optometrists. Several of its employees promote programs to provide vision screenings at area schools, the Missouri Veterans Home and area nursing homes. Leet EyeCare has donated to area charitable organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Hope for the Homeless and the Discovery Playhouse.

The Rush H. Limbaugh Award is presented annually to a successful professional who gives back to the community. Esicar, this year's recipient, got her start in the banking business as a part-time teller at First Federal Bank while attending college.

"Those of you who know me know there have been very few times in my life when I have been speechless. I think this is one of those times," Esicar said. She thanked her mentors and friends in the banking business in throughout the community.

She has been a member of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce since 1987; a member of the chamber's board of directors from 2002 through 2005 and served as chairman of the board in 2004; graduated from Leadership Cape in 1996; served as the chamber's Beautification Committee chairwoman in 2001; served six years on the United Way board of directors and on the executive committee as treasurer in 2007; served as the 2010 chairwoman of the Saint Francis Medical Center Foundation board of directors, 10 years of service to the Friends of Saint Francis Medical Center Board, serving as treasurer; served as a board member on the Southeast Missouri Booster Club Board, serving as president in 2008; and leader and volunteer for the American Cancer Society as a board member, chairwoman in 1996 and gala co-chairwoman in 1998. She is also involved with the Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cape County of Board of Realtors, First Christian Church in Cape Girardeau, Kimbeland Ladies Golf Association, and she is a lifetime member of the Boys and Girls Club of Cape Girardeau.

The Go-Getter award is annually presented to the Chamber ambassador who brings in new members, works to retain members and represents the chamber at events throughout the year. This year, the award was presented to Paula Myers, who was unable to attend Friday.

The outgoing chamber chairman of the board, Randy Kluge of Drury Southwest, was recognized Friday, and incoming chairman of the board Adam Kidd was the event's master of ceremonies.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau MO