Mark Kneer has joined the Southeast Missourian newspaper as director of circulation and marketing.

Kneer, a graduate of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green with a bachelor of science degree in business and marketing, joined the Paducah Sun newspaper in 1985, where he was involved in directing sales, budgeting and managing single copy sales and distribution. Prior to joining the Sun, he served six years as production coordinator for Heublein, Inc.

In his new position, he will be responsible for the entire circulation department, with special emphasis on increasing the paid circulation of the Missourian. He will also serve on the database marketing task force. The goal of the task force is to enhance circulation and advertising sales.

Kneer, his wife, Shelby, and children, Abigail, 12, and Will, 8, recently moved to Cape Girardeau.

Linda M. Hopkins, a certified public accountant, has joined the firm of Stanley, Dirnberger, Hopper and Associates as a staff accountant.

Before moving to Cape Girardeau, she was the audit manager for Gruber, Tanzey & Casey, P.C., in Mexico, Mo. Her audit experience included local governments, not-for-profit corporations, private schools and public schools.

Hopkins is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor of science degree in accountancy. She is a member of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Rick Bandermann and Kirk Mueller have joined Boatmen's Bank. Banderman is a new investment officer with Boatmen's Investment Services, Inc., and Mueller is assistant vice president in the agriculture lending department.

The appointments were announced recently by James P. Limbaugh, chairman, president and chief executive officer Boatmen's National Bank of Cape Girardeau.

Bandermann, a cum laude graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a double major in mathematics and English, has been in financial services more than eight years.

Bandermann will work at one of the bank's Jackson locations, 1846 E. Jackson Blvd.

Mueller, who most recently served as branch manager and loan officer at First Financial Bank of Mississippi County, is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor of science degree in agri-business. He previously served as agricultural lender with Farm Credit Services in Charleston, and is experienced in all types of loan activities.

In his new position, he will serve the bank as lead agricultural lender at Boatmen's main Jackson bank, located at 101 Court.

Art Blaylock of Jackson has joined Coldwell Banker Blanchard & Associates Realty, Inc., and will work out of the firm's Jackson office, 2836 E. Jackson Blvd.

Blaylock, who obtained his real estate sales license in 1986, has served as president of the Jackson MLS and president of the Cape Girardeau Board of Realtors. He is a director of the Missouri Association of Realtors (MAR) and is a life member of the MAR Million Dollar Club.

Blaylock previously served as an engineer officer with the Army. He left the military in 1980, and worked at Ford Groves Motor Co., as service manager until he became involved in real estate in 1986.

Coldwell Banker Blanchard & Associates has offices in Jackson ant Cape Girardeau, 1223 N. Kingshighway.

Jim Lunn has been named general manager of the Lowe's Companies facility at Cape Girardeau.

Lunn, a native of Poplar Bluff, was with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 20 years, serving the last eight years as district manager in the Southeast Missouri area.

He recently completed Lowe's executive manager training program.

Lowe's, which is expected to open here next month, operates more than 400 stores, primarily in the southeastern U.S. The firm hopes to open 60 new superstore units this year.

Robert P. Hoppmann of Cape Girardeau, supervisor of The Pasta House Co., 155 West Park Mall, was recently re-elected president of the Missouri Restaurant Association's Southeast Missouri Chapter.

Prior to joining the Pasta House Company, Hoppmann worked at the Heritage House in St. Louis as a cook, supervisor and assistant head chef. He joined The Pasta House Company in 1983 as a kitchen manager. He was later promoted to general manager, and now serves as supervisor.

Along with filling the role of chapter president for a second consecutive year, Hoppmann has served on the MRA membership committee. He is also president of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board.

Orville Schaefer, president of Schaefer Water Centers headquartered in Perryville, has been appointed to the Guardian Advisory Council of the 12,000-member National Federation of Independent Business/Missouri (NFIB), the state's largest business advocacy group.

Schaefer Water Centers, with water equipment locations at Perryville, Cape Girardeau, and Herculaneum, was founded in 1952, and has been operated by the Schaefer family since 1972.

"Schaefer is committed to helping fellow small-business owners throughout the state on key legislative issues," said Brad Jones, NFIB/Missouri state director.

Key priorities for NFIB/Missouri in 1994 are passage of measures that further reform the state's workers' compensation system, provide a voluntary framework for business to help address Missouri health issues and reduce excessive swings in unemployment insurance ;costs paid by business.

Chad Farris of Olive Branch, Ill. recently completed the Auctioneering and Auction Sales Management course at the Missouri Auction School.

Training at the nine-day course, held at Kansas City, included lectures and workshops featuring prominent auctioneers from throughout the U.S. Subjects included antique auctions, livestock, furniture, business liquidations, real estate, general merchandise and all types of estate auctions, and the rapid-fire chant of auctioneers.

Farris participated in selling at numerous public auctions in Kansas City and nearby communities.

Sandra Spalding of Cape Girardeau has joined Rainbow Counseling Services, Inc., 1221 Kingshway, as social worker.

Betty Statler, owner of the firm, announced Spalding's appointment this week.

Spalding, is a certified social worker.