JACKSON CHAMBER HONORS BUSINESS, INDUSTRY OF YEAR

JACKSON, Mo. -- SEMO Specialties and Sports and Midwest Sterilization were honored as businesses of the year during the annual Jackson Chamber of Commerce and Jackson Industrial Development banquet, held Monday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jackson.

The R. A. Fulenwider Award for community service, and chamber and industrial development officers were also elected.

Brett "Butch" Schneider accepted the Business of the Year award for SEMO Specialties & Sports, which has locations at Jackson and Cape Girardeau. Audrey Eldredge, owner of Midwest Sterilization, accepted the "Industry of the Year" award.

David Mull, of Jackson Transfer, received the Fulenwider award for community service.

Officers elected

Brad Elfrink, an officer with Bank of Missouri, was elected president of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. Other chamber officers include Gina Bader, of the Cash Book Journal, vice president; and Eric Maschhoff, secretary-treasurer. New chamber directors include Rick Sparks, of the Jackson extension office; Gary Nolan, Edgewater Glass; and Gene Penzel, of Penzel Construction.

John N. Thompson, of Union Planters Bank, was named president of the Jackson Industrial Development group. Other officers include Don Sievers, of Associated Sheet Metal, vice president; Valerie Tuschhoff, of the Jackson City Council, secretary; and Carl Talley, treasurer.

Valerie Tuschhoff was honored as outgoing chamber president and Penzel was honored as outgoing industrial development president.

Desmond Lee, former owner of Lee/Rowan, was guest speaker.

Lee's former company -- known as Rubbermaid now -- was founded more than 60 years ago in St. Louis. It became a subsidiary of Newell Co. in 1994 when it was purchased by Newell. Newell and Rubbermaid merged in March 1999 to form Newell Rubbermaid Inc., a $6.2 billion, Fortune 500 company.

Lee opened his first Lee/Rowan branch at Jackson in 1984, with 25 workers. When he sold the company to Newell Co., it had more than 1,000 workers and about 900,000 square feet under roof. Today the company employs about 1,400.