St. Charles County Business Record, MO articles from September 2004

St. Charles County Business Record, MO archives from September 2004

Path of Dreams leads homeowners to new look.
September 1, 2004... Byline: Amy Amour Custom Mortgage Solutions, Intex Design Resources L.L.C. and Orf Home Improvements L.L.C. have teamed up to provide Mid Rivers Mall shoppers with a new concept in retail home remodeling centers. Instead of a small...

Prayer breakfast joins religion, business.
September 1, 2004... Byline: James Monahan For some, religion and business remains separate entities, while others intentionally intertwine their personal beliefs with daily operations. A yearly prayer breakfast for businesspeople in the county allows...

Missouri Arts Council grants $10,000 to local cities.
September 1, 2004... Byline: staff The Missouri Arts Council has granted more than $10,000 to St. Charles and St. Peters to support programs in community arts, arts festivals and art exhibitions. The Arts Festival Association in St. Charles will receive $1,138...

The Service Corps of Retired Executives to hold monthly seminar.
September 1, 2004... Byline: staff The Service Corps of Retired Executives, affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration, will hold its monthly seminar entitled "How to Start and Manage Your Own Business" from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16,...

Bureau of Labor Statistics reports wage, employment figures for fourth quarter.
September 1, 2004... Byline: staff The national average weekly wage in the fourth quarter of 2003 was $767, which was 3.6 percent higher than in the fourth quarter of 2002, according to preliminary data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S....

Industrial Development Authority issues $33M in bonds this year.
September 2, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask The St. Charles County Industrial Development Authority has issued almost $64.4 million in development bonds for 21 projects during the past five years, according to the Economic Development Center of St. Charles County....

Family and Medical Leave Act works well for local businesses.
September 2, 2004... Byline: James Monahan The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for specified family and medical reasons. The measure applies...

Small business economic conditions improve.
September 2, 2004... Byline: staff Economic conditions for small business improved in the second quarter of 2004, according to the recently released Quarterly Indicators: The Economy And Small Business. The report, issued by the U.S. Small Business...

Wage gap draws concern for middle-class workers.
September 3, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon Reasonable minds can accept, and even justify, a difference of income between those that own or serve in an executive capacity and the average employee at any given business or organization. Skill, experience and a high...

Trionics takes water industry to new level.
September 3, 2004... Byline: James Monahan The metropolitan area is blessed with an abundant supply of water and treatment facilities that deliver safe, clean water to homes, businesses and industry. However, a new St. Charles water consultant company is...

Commentary: Reviewing political convention cycles causes confusion.
September 3, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon It is enough to make one wonder what exactly he is watching. The two major political parties have completed their national conventions for 2004. The Democrats had theirs last month, and the Republicans completed theirs...

First Bank names assistant vice president.
September 3, 2004... Byline: staff First Bank announces the promotion of Mark L. Wolz to assistant vice president at the 120 Jefferson St. office in St. Charles. Wolz oversees all aspects of commercial lending, including underwriting and approving loans,...

Owner of Slender Lady Lifestyle speaks at St. Charles Aktion Club.
September 3, 2004... Byline: staff Amy Baue, owner of Slender Lady Lifestyle, spoke on the topic of nutrition and fitness habits needed to lead a healthy lifestyle to the newly formed St. Charles Aktion Club on July 21. Baue's presentation included educational...

O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce holds ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
September 3, 2004... Byline: staff On Friday, July 23, the O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and city officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Christopher's Florist, located at 3004 WingHaven Blvd. Patty and Joe Mast are the owners. On Thursday, July 29,...

St. Charles loses another official.
September 3, 2004... Byline: Staff Carie Caskey, human resources director for the city of St. Charles, recently submitted her resignation. Caskey has been with the city for about the past three years. Caskey is the second key official in city government to...

Old Navy to enter St. Charles County market.
September 3, 2004... Byline: Staff Popular clothing retailer Old Navy will make its debut in St. Charles County next year with a store in O'Fallon. The retailer specializes in adult, children's and baby fashions. Currently, the closest Old Navy stores to St....

Dierbergs store to open at I-70 and Highway 79.
September 3, 2004... Byline: Staff When the 70,000-square-foot Dierbergs store opens this November at Interstate 70 and Highway 79, it will replace the Dierbergs store at I-70 at Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters. Dierbergs executives plan to redevelop the...

'Topping off' ceremony to be held for convention center project.
September 3, 2004... Byline: Staff St. Charles City officials and the St. Charles County Convention and Sports Facilities Authority will hold a "topping off" ceremony later this month at the site of the convention center project. Invitations to the event...

St. Charles-based Sign-A-Rama salesman offers customers a friendly face.
September 7, 2004... Byline: Wm. Stage Sign-A-Rama prints signs of all stripes, from banners to yard signs to T-shirts. Its large-format ZU Print system can transfer color digital images on to vinyl, metal, glass, stone and other mediums. One of three in...

Society for Human Resource Management, Rutgers to create new economic indicator.
September 7, 2004... Byline: staff The Society for Human Resource Management and Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations will collaborate to create the Leading Indicator of National Employment, a new economic indicator to be released on the fourth...

Computerized photos, images create opportunity for artist.
September 8, 2004... Byline: Rachel Brown St. Charles' new Foundry Art Centre is more than just a place to view spectacular works of art; it also offers a unique view into the profession of art itself. On an ongoing basis, visitors can watch career artists...

U.S. DOL reports on labor market since 2002.
September 8, 2004... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady On Monday, Sept. 6, the U.S. Department of Labor released a report that surveyed the state of America's work force, its changes in the past few years and ways to improve the national job training programs. The...

Minority Enterprise Development Week ends Friday.
September 8, 2004... Byline: staff This year's Minority Enterprise Development Week conference will be held Sept. 7 to Sept. 10 in Washington, D.C., according to literature from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The first MED Week was celebrated 21 years...

Commission chooses panel for Supreme Court of Missouri vacancy.
September 8, 2004... Byline: staff Ronnie L. White, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri and chair of the Appellate Judicial Commission, announced Friday that the commission has submitted to Gov. Bob Holden its panel of nominees to fill a vacancy on...

Gateway Medical to expand facility, operations.
September 9, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask Gateway Medical Research Inc. is preparing to expand its facility in the Fountain Lakes Commerce Center in St. Charles. The expansion, once it's completed, will more than double the size of the single-story facility...

Avon jumps from brochure to branch.
September 9, 2004... Byline: Amy Amour For the first time in Missouri, Mid Rivers Mall shoppers have the opportunity to touch, smell and feel the products normally only seen in the Avon brochures. Sammi's Avon Beauty Center, co-owned by independent Avon...

Hire vets group to start media campaign.
September 9, 2004... Byline: staff On Sept. 9, the President's National Hire Veterans Committee will launch a national media campaign to educate employers about the value and value-added features of hiring military veterans and to link employers to job-seeking...

SBC named one of LATINA Style's best companies.
September 9, 2004... Byline: staff For the seventh consecutive year, SBC Communications Inc. has ranked among the 50 Best Companies to Work for in the United States, according to LATINA Style magazine. This honor comes as LATINA Style magazine releases its...

Dardenne Prairie celebrates Wehrenberg's plan for theater.
September 10, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask It's not often that a city's work session of elected officials features cake and other refreshments for those attending a public meeting, but that was the case Wednesday night in Dardenne Prairie. What prompted this...

Auvi Technologies enters second original equip. manufacturing agreement.
September 10, 2004... Byline: Amy Amour St. Charles-based Auvi Technologies, a designer and developer of digital auto/visual systems in St. Charles County, recently signed its second original equipment manufacturing agreement with New Jersey-based Emerson Radio...

St. Charles International Assn. of Administrative Professionals to hold meeting.
September 10, 2004... Byline: staff The St. Charles chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will hold a dinner program on "Stretch Your Horizons - What is IAAP & How Can It Expand My Skills" from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday,...

Census Bureau to introduce new economic indicator.
September 10, 2004... Byline: staff The first estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's new Quarterly Services Survey will be released on Sept. 13. The QSS will produce statistics on total operating revenue and percentage change using the North American Industry...

Unemployment insurance claims down, report.
September 10, 2004... Byline: staff U.S. Department of Labor released its weekly unemployment insurance claims report on Thursday. In the week ending Sept. 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 319,000, a decrease of 44,000 from the...

SCC career consultants receives state credential, associate professor becomes CMA.
September 10, 2004... Byline: staff Eric Anderson and Lauri Gray-Stoewsand, St. Charles Community College staff members, have been awarded the Missouri Workforce Development Professional credential by the Missouri Association of Workforce Development. Work...

Enterprise Bank & Trust adds to mortgage division.
September 10, 2004... Byline: staff Enterprise Bank & Trust announced today that William R. Bruce has joined its mortgage division as vice president and director of mortgage lending. He will work out of the Enterprise Bank & Trust St. Peter's bank location....

Two pathologists join Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital.
September 10, 2004... Byline: staff Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital gladly welcomes pathologists Brandon Smithey, M.D., and Laura Baalmann-Mangano, M.D. Both physicians recently completed surgical pathology fellowships at Washington University School of...

SSM St. Joseph Health Center adds clinical neurologist to staff.
September 10, 2004... Byline: staff SSM St. Joseph Health Center is pleased to announce the addition of Min Pan, M.D., Ph.D., clinical neurologist, to its medical staff. Pan completed her residency training and fellowship at Saint Louis University Hospital. She...

AARP names ASSM Health Care a best employer.
September 10, 2004... Byline: staff ASSM Health Care has been named a 2004 recipient of the AARP "Best Employers for Workers Over 50." SSM St. Joseph Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and SSM St. Joseph Medical Park are members of SSM Health Care....

Commentary: Employment numbers improve when using correct count.
September 10, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon Everybody likes to be counted. From selecting teams as kids to occasionally being told "good job" in the workplace, it is difficult to find anyone who does not appreciate being included. It is human nature. Some people...

St. Charles-based Sunbelt Business Brokers educates clients on buying, selling businesses.
September 13, 2004... Byline: James Monahan Which approach to entrepreneurship has the better chance of success: starting your own business or purchasing an already-established one? Allen Bacher addresses that question with statistics. "If someone in a...

Beauty Brands helps domestic violence victims.
September 13, 2004... Byline: Amy Amour Sometimes cutting, coloring and styling hair are not the only jobs for salon professionals. Often hairstylists play the role of confidant, hearing the latest neighborhood gossip, updates on family crises, and sometimes...

MetaStable Insturments wins Small Business Innovation Research contract.
September 13, 2004... Byline: staff MetaStable Instruments Inc. won a Small Business Innovation Research contract from the Missile Defense Agency to develop a new instrument for measuring the very low absorption of light by thin film optical coatings. Lower...

O'Fallon Brewery releases Pumpkin Ale.
September 13, 2004... Byline: staff Back for its second season, O'Fallon Brewery plans to release its fall pumpkin beer to retailers this week. To launch O'Fallon Pumpkin Ale, the brewery has partnered with two area restaurateurs. The first pumpkin event will...

Novus International announces price increase.
September 13, 2004... Byline: staff In a news release, Novus International Inc., the global manufacturer of animal feed supplements, announced that it increased the dollar denominated price of Santoquin and QuinGuard Feed Preservatives by $0.22 per kilogram for...

O'Fallon chamber, city to hold expo.
September 14, 2004... Byline: staff The O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and the city of O'Fallon are co-hosting the first annual Community Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16. A limited number of booth spaces are available. The booth cost is $150 for...

Dierbergs Market expands to Wentzville area.
September 14, 2004... Byline: James Monahan Dierbergs Markets continues to expand its operations in St. Charles County to meet the demands of a growing population. The Wentzville Board of Aldermen approved on Sept. 8 the site plan for a new Dierbergs...

General Motors plant in Wentzville has new manager.
September 14, 2004... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady General Motors in Wentzville has a new manager. Robert C. Parcell, plant manager for the Parma Metal Center in Ohio, took over as plant manager in August. He replaced Mike Camp, who has retired. As plant...

Harrah's reports sizeable August increases.
September 14, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask Harrah's St. Louis Casino and Hotel in Maryland Heights continued to see considerable increases in customers and revenues during the month of August, according to the latest figures released by the Missouri Gaming...

Missouri Market displays some of St. Charles' best.
September 15, 2004... Byline: Amy Amour The perfect hand-carved decoration, fresh fruits and vegetables, award-winning wines and homemade soups - these are some items that make Missouri special. And these are some of the items that will be sold at the Best of...

O'Fallon chamber hosts identity theft seminar.
September 15, 2004... Byline: staff To educate its members and the general public about identity theft, the O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce is hosting an identity theft seminar and panel discussion from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at St. Charles...

Snap Creative receives graphic design award.
September 15, 2004... Byline: staff Snap Creative of St. Charles County is a winner of an American Graphic Design Award for excellence in communication and graphic design, presented by Graphic Design USA. Snap Creative received the award for their "Il Carnevale...

SBA announces 8(a) online application.
September 16, 2004... Byline: staff The U.S. Small Business Administration unveiled a new electronic online application on Friday that will make it easier, faster and less expensive for small companies to apply for 8(a) business development and small...

St. Charles Community College to host Democracy Days.
September 16, 2004... Byline: staff The St. Charles Community College will host the fourth annual Democracy Days during various day and evening times from Sept. 28 to 30 in rooms 205-206 of its Student Center on campus. The kickoff event, titled "An Inquiry...

Westfield Shoppingtown gets spiffy for upcoming holidays.
September 16, 2004... Byline: Amy Amour The St. Peters home of 150 specialty shops and restaurants in addition to the department stores Famous Barr, Sears, JCPenney and Dillard's is undergoing renovations for an updated look. Westfield Shoppingtown Mid Rivers...

El Palenque Mexican Restaurant brings Durango to St. Charles.
September 16, 2004... Byline: James Monahan As a young girl growing up in Durango, Mexico, Maria Flores had a vision of one day owning her own business. About three years ago, that vision became a reality when Flores and her husband, Joel, opened the El...

MU Extension program offers QuickBooks.
September 16, 2004... Byline: staff The University of Missouri Extension program in St. Charles County will offer an "Introduction to QuickBooks" computer workshop from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Extension Center in St. Peters. Cost for the...

Commentary: Verifying information diminishes susceptibility to frauds.
September 17, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon When Ronald Reagan said, "Trust, but verify," he was on the surface stating his official position regarding Mikhail Gorbachev and the Soviets. Most Americans never realized that by using that phrase - based off a common...

Robert J. Blackwell receives Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award.
September 17, 2004... Byline: staff Robert J. Blackwell, the principal of Blackwell & Associates P.C. in O'Fallon, has been awarded the 2004 Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award. Blackwell serves as the chairman of the Commercial Law Committee of The...

St. Charles Community College to hold women's financial education series.
September 17, 2004... Byline: staff The St. Charles Community College's continuing education division will host the Women's Financial Education Series from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. five Thursday evenings, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 and Nov. 2. The classes will cover...

O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and city officials hold ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
September 17, 2004... Byline: staff On Thursday, Sept. 2, the O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and city officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Kumon Math & Reading Center, an after-school educational center, at 2717 Highway K. Its owners are Sonia & Mark...

MO Dept. of Economic Development to help Warrenton renew downtown.
September 17, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask The Missouri Department of Economic Development has agreed to provide some help to Warrenton officials who want to improve access to the city's downtown district and open up nearby areas for development. The DED has...

Linco Diagnostic Services completes headquarters within the Missouri Research Park.
September 17, 2004... Byline: Rachel Brown Linco Diagnostic Services Inc. just completed its new 52,000-square-foot headquarters on six acres within the Missouri Research Park, a 130-acre technology park that is the easternmost anchor of the Interstate 40/61...

Encouraging, Supporting and Promoting Women to hold monthly meeting.
September 17, 2004... Byline: staff ESPW, Encouraging, Supporting and Promoting Women, will hold its monthly meeting from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Stegton Regency Banquet Center. The topic will be dream interpretations with Rosemary...

LMI Aerospace sells its Canadian division of Versaform.
September 20, 2004... Byline: Kathleen T. Brady LMI Aerospace Inc. announced on Thursday that it sold its Versaform Canada division in order to narrow its focus on its core business of manufacturing metal components for the aerospace, medical and technological...

Lakeside Business Park receives support from St. Peters Chamber of Commerce.
September 20, 2004... Byline: James Monahan St. Peters city leaders see the proposed Lakeside 370 Business Park as a large part of the economic future of the community. The St. Peters Chamber of Commerce agrees. In its September newsletter, the chamber...

St. Charles Business Briefs: September 20, 2004.
September 20, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask For almost a year, the U.S. Army Reserve has been looking at various sites in St. Charles County as possible locations for a major training facility. Currently, the Army Reserve has its eyes set on a building in eastern...

Interview with president of Wainwright Industries.
September 21, 2004... Byline: Wm. Stage Founded in 1947, Wainwright Industries now has three facilities including two in St. Charles County: The first county site in St. Peters as well as expanded operations in Wentzville and Columbia. Besides its mainstay of...

St. Charles County sees job picture improve.
September 21, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask After months of steady growth in the unemployment rate, St. Charles County experienced a considerable decline in its jobless rate in August, according to the latest figures provides by the Missouri Department of Economic...

BBB honors two St. Charles companies.
September 21, 2004... Byline: staff The Better Business Bureau next month will honor SCI Engineering Inc. and Quilogy Inc., both headquartered in St. Charles, at the bureau's biennial World-Class Customer Satisfaction Awards luncheon. SCI Engineering and...

United Services expands to western part of county.
September 21, 2004... Byline: Rachel Brown As the population in western St. Charles County continues to expand, so does the need for special services for children with disabilities. United Services, which annually provides daycare, therapy and educational...

SBA plans for Small Business Week.
September 22, 2004... Byline: staff The Small Business Week of Eastern Missouri Inc. is holding committee meetings on Mondays, Oct. 4, Nov. 8, Dec. 13, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 14 and April 11. The meetings will be held at U.S. Bank, 10 N. Hanley in Clayton....

Study finds convention center good for economy.
September 22, 2004... Byline: Rachel Brown As the new St. Charles Convention Center approaches its on-schedule opening of April 2005, a new study has shed some light on the level of positive economic impact the new center could have to nearby hotels,...

Consultant urges leaders to set high standards.
September 22, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask Consultant Mark S. Carlie wanted the two dozen or so would-be leaders assembled last Wednesday to take at least one lesson away from his seminar on strategic leadership: "It's to write yourself a courageous goal" for...

SBA streamlines loan program.
September 23, 2004... Byline: staff The U.S. Small Business Administration has streamlined its loan processing operations through the 504 loan program. This program is designed to get more loans processed with fewer staff in less time. This is a major success...

Fountain Lakes draws retail developers' interest.
September 23, 2004... Byline: Mike Trask So how does an orthopedic surgeon get involved in putting up a speculative retail center in northwestern St. Charles? "Four kids at Sacred Heart," responds Dr. D.J. Zavradinos, referring to a private Catholic school...

Web designers give tips on creating effective Web sites.
September 23, 2004... Byline: Amy Amour Whether your business is adding a Web site to sell products online, to add credibility to your company or to reach a wider client base, business owners need to take several things into consideration to make sure their Web...

Partners for Progress wins second international award.
September 23, 2004... Byline: staff Partners for Progress of St. Charles County has been honored with the APEX 2004 Award for publication excellence, the business group's second international award recognizing its national promotional work in support of...

St. Charles Premier Bank appoints board of directors.
September 24, 2004... Byline: staff Darrell Roegner, president of the St. Charles Premier Bank, is pleased to announce the appointment of three community business leaders as directors on the Premier Bank's community board of directors for the St. Charles...

Commentary: Declining voter turnout questioned as election day nears.
September 24, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon In just 39 days, active voters will participate in the nation's 56th presidential election. With this excursion to the ballot box, pundits and political junkies are certain to bemoan a lower-than-desired turnout. But...

Professor Tom Stephens to receive Emerson teaching award.
September 24, 2004... Byline: staff Professor Tom Stephens, a longtime educator and former superintendent of the Wentzville School District, will receive the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award at a ceremony Nov. 21 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Clayton. The...

Julius J. Anderson named to board of William Jewell College.
September 24, 2004... Byline: staff Julius J. Anderson of Lake Saint Louis has been named to the board of trustees at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. A 1971 graduate of William Jewell, Anderson is president and owner of First Heartland Corp., an...

Reliance Bank opens facility in St. Peters, hires VPs.
September 24, 2004... Byline: staff Reliance Bank opened its newly constructed full-service facility in St. Peters at 6100 Mexico Road on Sept. 3. To support the tremendous growth in the area, the St. Peters office has hired Todd Smith as senior vice president,...

St. Charles business leaders help students learn about careers.
September 24, 2004... Byline: Amy Amour What do you want to be when you grow up? We've all heard this question in our youth, but did we really have a good answer? The St. Peters Chamber of Commerce found a way of asking students that age-old question to get...

St. Charles Community College report shows enrollment exceeding growth.
September 24, 2004... Byline: Rachel Brown St. Charles Community College 2003-2004 president's report showed there is strong continued growth in enrollment and programs which justifies the need for the next phase of physical expansion for the campus. ...