Compiled by Lauri Johnson
UNIGROUP'S WIDIGER RECEIVES 2009 “ONES TO WATCH” AWARD FROM CIO MAGAZINE
Gary Widiger, director of enterprise architecture at UniGroup, has received the 2009
CIO Ones to Watch Award from International Data Group’s CIO magazine and the CIO Executive Council. Widiger accepted his award at an awards ceremony at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.,
during CIO magazine’s Leadership Event.
“The Ones to Watch honorees are, variously, great technologists, project managers, information architects and risk managers. The one thing they all have in common is their ability to lead,” stated Maryfran Johnson, CIO’s editor in chief.
The honor is bestowed upon 25 rising stars in information technology who bring leadership, innovation and value to their organization and are primed to become future chief information officers.
UNIGROUP NAMED A
CIO 100 AWARD HONOREE
CIO magazine has named UniGroup Inc. as a recipient of the 2009 CIO 100, an award that recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information
technology. The 2009 CIO 100 awards were
presented in Colorado Springs, Colo. at the conclusion of the 11th annual CIO 100 Symposium® and Awards Ceremony.
“This year’s CIO 100 awards draws well-deserved attention to companies that are both innovating and creating business value with IT despite the economic downturn,” stated Maryfran Johnson, editor in chief of CIO magazine & events. “These winners are an inspiration to businesses everywhere.”
UniGroup is a $2 billion transportation and relocation services company headquartered in suburban St. Louis that owns household goods carriers United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit.
HOK RANKS 3RD
IN INAUGURAL “ARCHITECT 50”
Architect magazine has ranked HOK No. 3 on its Architect 50 ranking of the top 50 architectural practices.
“We designed the Architect 50 quite simply to promote a well-rounded definition of success,” says the magazine’s introduction. “The criteria for inclusion comprise a trifecta of critical goals for every practice: profitability, sustainability, and design quality.”
According to Architect’s description of HOK, “The green giant can boast a slew of recent LEED projects and a new, notable partnership with the Biomimicry Guild.”
HOK is a global architectural firm that specializes in planning, design and delivery solutions for buildings and communities.
ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD RANKS WALTON AMONG
NATION’S TOP 100 CONTRACTORS
Walton Construction ranked No. 92 on Engineering News–Record’s 2009 list of Top 400 Contractors. Nationwide, Walton pulled in $706 million in revenue for 2008 and secured $651 million in new contracts. Walton St. Louis had
$79.8 million in 2008 revenue.
According to ENR, the total 2008 revenue for the Top 400 General Contractors was $338.38 billion, up 11.2 percent compared to 2007.
ENR is a weekly magazine that provides news, analysis, data and opinion for the construction industry worldwide.
RUBINBROWN CPA NAMED ONE OF
NATION’S TOP RECESSION TAX ADVISORS
Steve Brown, accountant and partner-in-charge of RubinBrown’s tax consulting services group, was named a Top 40 Tax Advisors to Know During a Recession by CPA Magazine. Brown was the only
St. Louis advisor named to the national list.
The magazine invited every state society and national association of CPAs and accountants to nominate candidates and then selected the 40 elite based on their experience, knowledge and tax planning advice. They were recognized in the magazine’s tax issue, along with their suggestions for surviving the recession. Brown advised companies to stick with long-term business goals and not get distracted by the current economic climate.
PRESIDENT OF CENTRIC HEALTH
RESOURCES FEATURED ON PBS’
“THE AMERICAN HEALTH JOURNAL”
Craig Kephart, president and CEO of Centric Health Resources in Chesterfield, Mo., was featured on PBS’ “The American Health Journal” on channel KOCE, a Public Broadcasting Service station that serves Orange County, Calif., and surrounding counties. Kephart appeared in a segment on ultra-orphan disorders, which are rare, crippling and life-threatening health conditions.
“We are thankful for the opportunity with ‘The American Journal,’ and hope our segment raises awareness about rare, ultra-orphan disorders and offers patients a place to turn to for ongoing support,” stated Kephart.
“It is imperative that we spread the word about rare, ultra-orphan disorders and create awareness because this very small, niche population faces staggering complications when it comes to getting the healthcare they need,” he continued. “Very often, if you are a patient with a rare, ultra-orphan disorder, you do not know where to turn and may not run into another patient with the same disorder in your entire lifetime.”
Centric Health Resources Inc. is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people nationwide with rare, ultra-orphan and chronic genetic disorders.
KWAME BUILDING GROUP CEO FEATURED
IN WWW.BLACKENTERPRISE.COM ARTICLE
Tony Thompson, president and CEO of St. Louis-based Kwame Building Group, was featured in an article titled “Take Hold of Your Business Success: Three secrets to inspire, motivate, enlighten” on www.blackenterprise.com.
In the article, Thompson and other business leaders from Tennessee and Maryland shared their secrets to running a successful business. Thompson said he relies on faith in himself, in his employees and in his company’s practices to remain successful. When KWAME, a construction management firm with public and private clients nationwide, was pulled into a four-year, $100 million lawsuit, Thompson had to make some tough decisions.
“I had to continue to market and stay active in the community with charitable organizations and boards while traveling the country developing new business,” says Thompson in the article.
Thompson’s faith in his ability and his company paid off: 2008 was KWAME’s best year in its 17 years of business.
“It’s almost analogous to guts, but it’s more than guts—it’s what made me stand up as the only black guy in the room of CEOs and fight for my life in the middle of litigation,” said Thompson. “You have to have total and complete confidence in your ability to succeed.”
DEMAND SOLUTIONS’ HARRISON
NAMED A “PROVIDER PRO TO KNOW”
Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine has recognized Bill Harrison, president of Demand Management, as one of its 2009 Provider Pros to Know. The list honors supply chain leaders who have demonstrated leadership during times of economic crisis.
“Before cutting jobs or conducting layoffs, Harrison thinks the one place organizations can look to save big right now is in their supply chain and encourages companies
to ‘layoff their inventory,’” according to
the magazine.
Harrison joined Demand Management in 2006, bringing more than 30 years of supply chain operations expertise to the company. Demand Management Inc. is a global resource for managing
supply chains for small and midsized enterprises.
ARCHER WEALTH MANAGEMENT SELECTED
AS A LEADING WEALTH MANAGER FOR 2009
Archer Wealth Management LLC has been selected by Goldline Research for inclusion in the 2009 Leading Wealth Managers of the Central United States research guide. The guide was published in Forbes magazine.
“Those selected provide extensive client service that exceeds the industry standard,” stated George Shaeffer, an analyst at Goldline Research. “We believe they are setting the benchmarks for the industry as a whole.”
Goldline Research is an independent market research firm that specializes in evaluating professional service providers to help consumers identify and select leading firms.
HUSCH
BLACKWELL
SANDERS
RANKS NO. 7 AMONG TOP TRADEMARK FIRMS
Husch Blackwell Sanders has been recognized by Intellectual Property Today magazine in its 2009 Top Trademark Firms survey. The firm took the No. 7 spot among the 277 contenders in the survey. Husch Blackwell Sanders increased its trademark work more than 12 percent from 2007 to 2008.
Intellectual Property Today determines the rankings according to the total number of issued U.S. utility patents that firms obtained on behalf of their clients in 2008. It also reports on the total number of U.S. plant and design patents that firms have issued.
ACCOUNTING TECHNOLOGY RANKS RSM MCGLADREY THIRD AMONG
VALUE-ADDED RESELLERS
Accounting Technology has ranked RSM McGladrey third in its annual list of the country’s top 100 value-added resellers. The list ranks companies that market mid-level accounting software packages based on their 2008 revenue figures.
Accounting Technology is a trade magazine that addresses the use of technology within accounting and provides up-to-date information on technology services and products.
CASINO JOURNAL NAMES McDOWELL
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Virginia McDowell, president and CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., has been selected by Casino Journal as the magazine’s 2009 Gaming Executive of the Year.
“There are a lot of stellar executives in this industry, and every year this award presents us with some tough choices, but this year was easy,” stated Charles Anderer, publisher of Casino Journal. “Virginia is not only one of the ablest and most respected executives we have, she also gives generously of her time and her skills on behalf of the community. And as the only woman to head a major publicly traded casino company, she’s been a role model for so many people pursuing careers in gaming and in the business world at large.”
St. Louis-based Isle of Capri Casinos was founded in 1992 and owns 17 casino properties.
CHESTERFIELD ARTS WELCOMES J. SEWARD JOHNSON SCULPTURE
In October, Chesterfield Arts will celebrate the work of a giant in the art community with a unique piece of artwork in Chesterfield, Mo. World-renowned sculptor
J. Seward Johnson has recreated his iconic “The Awakening” for placement this fall in the heart of Sachs Properties’ Downtown Chesterfield development in a new sculpture garden adjacent to Chesterfield’s Central Park. The artwork depicts a bearded giant emerging from the ground and measures 70 feet long by 17 feet tall.
“’The Awakening’ symbolizes the commitment of Chesterfield Arts to engaging the public through creative experiences,” stated Stacey Morse, executive director of Chesterfield Arts. “We want the arts to be an integral part of our city and a creative way to connect its citizens. We thank Sachs Properties and the city of Chesterfield for supporting this project and their on-going commitment to our vision.”
The cast aluminum sculpture will be completed by the artist in Hamilton, N.J., in late summer 2009 and sent cross-country for installation in Chesterfield. “The Awakening” consists of five pieces—an outstretched arm, a hand, a leg and foot, and a head with a gnarled beard. It weighs 4,700 pounds. The original sculpture was created by Johnson in 1980 and is located at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C. |
