St. Charles County Business Record, MO articles from November 2003

St. Charles County Business Record, MO archives from November 2003

Commentary: GM gets help drawing women to nontraditional careers.
November 3, 2003... Byline: Linda Jacobson At a Diversity Task Force meeting on Oct. 7, human resource and training professionals from General Motors in Wentzville were invited to speak to us about their cultural diversity initiatives.We were all very...

Independent grocers in St. Charles expect return to normal now that strike has ended.
November 3, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Now that union workers have returned to the job at local Schnuck Market Inc., Dierbergs Market Inc. and Shop 'n Save Warehouse Food Inc. stores, independent grocers not affected by the strike expect many of the new...

Missouri Public Service Comm. holds meeting on AmerenUE's request for rate increase.
November 3, 2003... Byline: James Monahan The Missouri Public Service Commission held a public hearing Oct. 28 at the Wentzville Municipal Courtroom on AmerenUE's request for a rate increase on natural gas supplied to its customers in Missouri. A handful of...

Mall owner still grapples with city over signage.
November 4, 2003... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady Two years ago, thousands of people from all over the St. Louis metropolitan region drove to the heart of St. Charles City to celebrate the opening of the Bass Pro Shops. With that opening came the promise of a...

Seminar helps entrepreneurs evaluate risk.
November 4, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Before starting a new business, smart entrepreneurs evaluate the pros and cons of owning their own company and making it work. Now there's help available to assist them in that process.St. Charles Community College...

Commentary: Business ethics begins with the individual.
November 6, 2003... Byline: Dan Turpin The corporate world has jeopardized its integrity by the recent series of scandals and deception over the last few years. These unethical and greedy acts by a select few of individuals has altered the consumer's view of...

True Manufacturing receives mayor's award.
November 6, 2003... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady In an attempt to honor a large but tight-lipped business in St. Charles County, the mayor of O'Fallon used a special, one-time award.Mayor Paul Renaud and city officials visited True Manufacturing Co. on Monday,...

St. Charles City gets two economic development awards.
November 7, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask St. Charles City managed to take home two of the 16 economic development awards presented by the Missouri Economic Development Council during the group's fall conference last month at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in...

Commentary: Health insurance is most valued portion of pay packages.
November 7, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Last Friday, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 ended a 25-day strike by accepting a revised contract offer by the three largest supermarket chains in the St. Louis region. For the 10,000...

Okla. City-area executives define customer service.
November 7, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Customer service can be complicated or simple, depending on the mindset of a company's management.For a relatively young business like home builder T.R. Hughes Inc., customer service comes down to a simple philosophy....

Yong Wu joins SCI Engineering at its Fairview Heights, Illinois location.
November 7, 2003... Byline: staff Yong Wu recently joined SCI Engineering Inc. as a staff engineer to provide a diverse scope of geotechnical evaluations and oversight of construction projects for the geotechnical services group. Wu graduated with a...

O'Brien joins St. Peters-based Cissell Mueller Co.
November 7, 2003... Byline: staff Tim O'Brien recently joined St. Peters-based Cissell Mueller Co. L.L.C. as associate broker. O'Brien was the area manager for Eastern Missouri and Illinois for Carter Petroleum for the past 10 years. He will be handling...

Conway joins St. Peters-based Enterprise Bank board of directors.
November 7, 2003... Byline: staff Enterprise Bank announced the appointment of Dorothy M. Conway, president of The Conway Group, as a new member to its board of directors. "Dorothy is widely recognized for her professional accomplishments and service to...

Lindenwood University's athletic program receives accreditation.
November 7, 2003... Byline: staff Lindenwood University's athletic training program scored a major victory this week with the achievement of national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Lindenwood's quest for...

Clarkson Eyecare unveils new look on Web site.
November 7, 2003... Byline: staff Clarkson Eyecare has unveiled its new and improved Web site at www.clarksoneyecare.com. The updated Web site features two sites in one - Clarkson Eyecare and Clarkson Eyecare LASIK. Both will serve as another source of...

Two St. Charles Community College faculty members receive Ring of Excellence.
November 7, 2003... Byline: staff The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce awarded two St. Charles Community College faculty members the Ring of Excellence Award during a luncheon Oct. 15 at the Heart of St. Charles Banquet Center. Chris Van Mierlo, SCC learning...

Two St. Charles-area hospitals win Trailblazer Award for partnership with community college.
November 7, 2003... Byline: staff The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce has awarded Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and SSM St. Joseph Health Center the Education Trailblazer Award in recognition of their partnership with the St. Charles Community College...

Quail Ridge meeting facility sparks interest.
November 10, 2003... Byline: James Monahan On Oct. 30 the St. Charles County Parks Department held an opening ceremony of the Quail Ridge Lodge to commemorate the completion of the 250-acre Quail Ridge Park just southwest of the Interstate 70 and Highway 40-61...

Human resource specialists weight in ideas at seminar.
November 10, 2003... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady About 60 people crowded behind rows of tables in the main meeting hall at the Stegton Regency Banquet & Conference Center on Thursday morning to listen to human resource specialists share some tips on retaining...

Commentary: New tax act assists small-business owners.
November 10, 2003... Byline: Steve Stillman While attention has focused mostly on individual taxpayers and investors, the new Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 provides several direct and indirect benefits for the small-business owner.Tax...

Anger management in workplace becoming concern.
November 11, 2003... Byline: Amy Amour No, it's not just the title of a movie anymore. Anger management is a growing concern among businesses.Since 9/11, anger management is one of the nation's most requested intervention programs from human resource managers...

St. Charles County officials may wait on redevelopment laws.
November 11, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask St. Charles officials have been pondering redevelopment possibilities the past several months but may hold off on making any proposals to make over the city's downtown that would utilize a new state law designed to...

St. Joseph's program increases patient loyalty.
November 12, 2003... Byline: Amy Amour For the past two years, SSM St. Joseph hospitals have implemented an emergency room program that has indirectly improved its patient loyalty.Since May 2001, SSM St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles and SSM St. Joseph...

Preliminary construction begins for Salt Lick Center.
November 12, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Three vacant acres at the corner of Salt Lick Road and Four Winds Drive will soon be the site of the Salt Lick Center, a new strip mall to serve St. Peters residents.The city planning and zoning commission gave final...

International Association of Administrative Professionals discusses ethics in workplace at meeting.
November 13, 2003... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady In light of the numerous corporate scandals jarring the nation today, a meeting on ethics in the workplace came just at the right time.At a monthly meeting for the St. Charles Chapter of the International...

'Service is everything' for Sams Carpet Service.
November 13, 2003... Byline: Dan Turpin Many businesses in St. Charles County have a common theme: customer service. Although this focus is not unique to any business, the effort one company puts into serving customers verses another may make all the...

Business fraud touches both large, small companies.
November 14, 2003... Byline: Erin Conroy The term "business fraud" sounds like the stuff "Law & Order" plotlines and Hollywood films are made of. But it happens in real life, too, and not just at large corporations like Enron or WorldCom. According to the...

Irish Fox Stables to move its large facility a short distance.
November 14, 2003... Byline: James Monahan John and Bethal Korenak are planning a big move over a short distance. The owners of the Irish Fox Stables Inc. plan to relocate about 50 horses and a riding stable business from its current location at 9094...

SCI Engineering names new staff engineer.
November 14, 2003... Byline: staff Brian Robben recently joined SCI Engineering Inc. as a staff engineer to provide engineering oversight of construction projects for the construction service group. Robben graduated with a bachelor's degree in petroleum...

U.S. Bank named to InfoWorld 100 list.
November 14, 2003... Byline: staff U.S. Bank announced that it has been named to the 2003 InfoWorld 100 list by IDG's InfoWorld Magazine. The InfoWorld 100 list is composed of a select group of organizations recognized for their efforts to bolster business and...

Clarkson Eyecare doctor nationally recognized.
November 14, 2003... Byline: staff The work of Clarkson Eyecare doctor Raymond F. Fada Jr., O.D. FAAO, was published in the Sept. 15 issue of the national optometry publication, Review of Optometry. Fada's case report was selected for publication as a finalist...

Belleville mayor joins Lindenwood board of directors.
November 14, 2003... Byline: staff Belleville Mayor Mark Kern, who worked with city and school officials and dozens of community partners to bring Lindenwood University to Belleville, has joined Lindenwood's 35-member board of directors. Kern, 40, attended his...

Pundmann Ford Sale-A-Thon raises more than $17,000.
November 14, 2003... Byline: staff From Aug. 15 through Sept. 15, Pundmann Ford donated $50 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association for every car sold. Pundmann raised more than $17,000 for local children and adults with neuromuscular diseases. MDA does not...

St. Charles Community College raises money for breast cancer.
November 14, 2003... Byline: staff St. Charles Community College students, faculty and staff hosted a raffle in early October for Breast Cancer Awareness month and raised more than $700 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A free lunch-time seminar...

Midwest BankCentre raises money for Crossroads Elementary.
November 14, 2003... Byline: staff Midwest BankCentre in WingHaven is jump-starting the holiday season with a one-day shopping event featuring local vendors to benefit the Crossroads Elementary School library in WingHaven. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to...

Numerous ribbon cuttings held in St. Peters, O'Fallon, Wentzville.
November 14, 2003... Byline: staff On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Get The Door! and Old Republic Title Co. Get The Door!, owned by brothers Sid and Randy Kahn, is located at 37 Centre Point in St....

U.S. Rep. lends ear to St. Charles County business panel.
November 17, 2003... Byline: Kathleen Brady The growth of small businesses, the strongest economic engine in the country, depends on keeping business costs down. That was the bottom-line message at the end of a two-hour roundtable discussion hosted by U.S....

Commentary: Creating a comfortable working environment is important.
November 17, 2003... Byline: David Wallace A comfortable work environment is key to increasing productivity at work. Repetitive movements, combined with restrictive posture, can pinch nerves, irritate tendons and inhibit blood flow. Conditions that have been...

Boeing's St. Charles plant to benefit from Navy contract.
November 18, 2003... Byline: staff The Boeing Co.'s McDonnell Douglas unit headquartered in St. Louis has been awarded a $10.8 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy for the production of 86 Harpoon Missile Block II retrofit kits and 24 warhead...

Boone Center Inc. offers free conference center use.
November 18, 2003... Byline: Amy Amour Boone Center Inc., a not-for-profit organization that provides employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, recently completed renovations on a state-of-the-art conference center that is available to local...

LMI Aerospace reports wider loss.
November 18, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask LMI Aerospace Inc. recorded a $645,000, or 8 cents per common share, loss in the third quarter of 2003. That compares to a loss of $420,000, or 5 cents per common share, in the third quarter of last year, the company...

O'Fallon strives to be first city of character.
November 19, 2003... Byline: Amy Amour "Character" is defined as the inward motivation to do what is right, whatever the cost. The city of O'Fallon recently formed a steering committee to become Missouri's first City of Character as designated by the...

Executive Personal Computer expands services.
November 19, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Executive Personal Computers Inc. has expanded its services to include the purchasing and sale of midrange server products through a new division, CSI Trading Inc. St. Charles-based EPC says it is one of the largest...

Home building in St. Charles County not slowing.
November 19, 2003... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady The key to the home building industry is interest rates, and with interest rates at 40-year lows, home building in the county has not slowed down. "I see no . . . slowdown to speak of" in the home building...

Financial expert gives market update at joint chamber meeting.
November 20, 2003... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady "Don't play with cheaters." That's Juli Niemann's advice about mutual funds. Niemann, CFA, senior vice president of equity research and portfolio management at R.T. Jones Capital Equities Inc. in St. Louis,...

Strong work culture helps employee retention.
November 20, 2003... Byline: Erin Conroy A lot of people enjoy Dilbert comic strips, following along each day as the hapless Dilbert and his co-workers suffer endless humiliation and broken spirits at the hands of the "evil boss." But no one wants to identify...

CEO, president of Emmaus Homes resigns.
November 21, 2003... Byline: staff Susan Rinne, president and CEO of Emmaus Homes, has resigned effective Dec. 5 to become an assistant public defender in St. Joseph, Mo., returning to her first professional passion. Rinne grew up in Marthasville where her...

Senator announces federal housing funds for St. Peters.
November 21, 2003... Byline: staff U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond announced that St. Peters will receive federal housing funds for low- and moderate-income families. The Department of Housing and Urban Development will send the city of St. Peters $236,000 in...

MDinvest Inc. names new regional director.
November 21, 2003... Byline: staff St. Peters financial adviser Sean Sunderlage has been named regional director for the St. Louis area. Sunderlage is a third-generation financial consultant. Prior to joining the MDinvest team, he founded his own financial...

St. Charles Catholic Business and Professional Assn. names new chairman.
November 21, 2003... Byline: staff Kevin F. Kast, president of SSM St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake Saint Louis and SSM St. Joseph Medical Park in St. Peters, has been selected to serve as chairman of the St....

DNR awards $20,000 to East Central Solid Waste District.
November 21, 2003... Byline: staff The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $20,000 grant to the East Central Solid Waste Management District, which includes Franklin, Lincoln, Montgomery and Warren counties. These grants enable Missouri's...

John Q. Hammons named top hotelier.
November 21, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask HOTELS Magazine has named John Q. Hammons the recipient of the publications Corporate Hotelier of the World award. Hammons, 84-year-old founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Springfield, Mo.-based John Q....

Manufacturers have assistance program.
November 21, 2003... Byline: Dan Turpin The road for the nation's manufacturers has not been an easy one. Manufacturing has seen a decline in this country as a result of increased competition from cheaper imported products and a migration of manufacturing jobs...

Tourism officials to use holidays to market Lewis and Clark.
November 21, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask St. Charles tourism officials are gearing up for the holidays with its annual Christmas celebration that is scheduled to begin Nov. 28 and run through Dec. 21. The celebration, that mostly takes place in the city's...

Ralph Demien receives the St. Charles's Professional Excellence Achievement Recognition Award.
November 24, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Ralph Demien received the St. Charles Community College Foundation's Professional Excellence Achievement Recognition (P.E.A.R.) Award at the college's ninth annual SCC Foundation Benefit at The Columns Banquet Center...

Commentary: Silence often is better than words when communicating.
November 24, 2003... Byline: James Monahan Previously, I wrote about a great part of listening being the space between the words - based on the premise that the essence of music is the space between the notes. We hear or come to understand many things...

Missouri governor enlists educators and businesses in battle for adequate public education funding.
November 24, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask To some the roundtable discussion was nothing more than a political rally. To others, it was a straightforward plea for providing more money to public education in Missouri. Gov. Bob Holden headed the discussion...

O'Fallon attorney reappointed to second term as Commercial Law chair.
November 25, 2003... Byline: Amy Amour O'Fallon attorney Robert J. Blackwell, principal of Blackwell and Associates L.L.C., has been appointed as the chair for the Missouri Bar Association's Commercial Law Committee for the second year in a row. ...

St. Charles County job growth among top in national report.
November 25, 2003... Byline: James Monahan While it's no secret that St. Charles County has experienced tremendous expansion in recent years, a recent U.S. Department of Labor report highlights just how dramatic that growth has been. In its quarterly...

Interview with O'Fallon chiropractor.
November 25, 2003... Byline: Wm. Stage Established in 1994, Frontier Integrated Health Center, located at 2011 Hwy K in O'Fallon, offers far more than chiropractic care. The facility provides wellness options that include physical therapy, massage therapy,...

More county residents find work in October.
November 26, 2003... Byline: Mike Trask Some 2,500 more St. Charles County residents had jobs in October than in September, according to the latest statistics from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The county's jobless rate fell to 3.5...

SSM St. Joseph Health Center moves pediatric service west.
November 26, 2003... Byline: Amy Amour As residents in St. Louis and St. Charles move west, so have many business services. For the past few years, SSM St. Joseph Health Care has been expanding its hospital services at its facility in Lake Saint Louis....

New incubator company offers Internet scheduling solutions.
November 26, 2003... Byline: Amy Amour Has keeping track of your children's soccer games become a nearly impossible task? Or maybe you coach your son's baseball team, and it takes all night to get in contact with players to cancel a practice. A new...