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Compiled by
Lauri Johnson
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN OPENS NEW CHILDREN'S
ADVENTURE
A new family attraction, the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden:
A Missouri Adventure, opens this month at the Missouri Botanical
Garden. The garden is a two-acre display of the 19th century Missouri
frontier and life along the river designed for hands-on fun and
interactive learning. The children of the Donald Schnuck family
provided the lead gift to build the attraction, named in honor of
their mother.
The Children’s Garden explores the central themes of discovery,
adventure, botany and settlement with four paths that offer unique
journeys. Among other activities, visitors can explore an Osage
Camp to learn how early settlers interacted with plants and animals,
glide down Spelunker’s Slide to a rocky limestone cave, tour a river
commerce exhibit with a docked steamboat, and explore a Midwestern
prairie village from the 1800s.
The garden is open Saturdays and Sundays in April from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m., with special grand opening activities from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. each day. From May to October, the garden will be open daily
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.mobot.org
or call (800) 642-8842.
SSE WINS BRANDON HALL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Technological solutions provider SSE has received the 2005 Brandon
Hall Excellence in E-Learning Award for a web-based training program
that it developed for TALX Corp. The program, called “Controlling
Unemployment Costs,” is an example of SSE’s “contextualized learning”
solutions, which present realistic scenarios that are specific to
the industry and job function of the learner.
The Brandon Hall awards showcase exceptional work in innovative
learning and are presented by Brandon Hall Research, one of the
leading research and consulting firms in business training and development.
A panel of independent judges evaluated a total of 210 entries from
16 countries for the 2005 contest.
TALX MOVES INTO WEST PORT PLACE
TALX Corporation has announced that it will centralize many of its
core business units into a new corporate facility at West Port Place
in Maryland Heights, Mo. The change in venue is largely a “functional
move” that reflects the company’s significant employee growth, key
acquisitions and expansion of services.
The three-story building will provide TALX with more than 94,000
square feet of space. After the move, the company will have a total
of four facilities in the Westport area. Approximately 550 of the
company’s 800 St. Louis-based employees will be located in the new
building. The company started the multiphase moving process in late
February and expects to finish it in June.
ECG MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS EXPANDS INTO
ST. LOUIS
Seattle-based ECG Management Consultants Inc., a national provider
of healthcare consulting services for hospitals, health systems,
physician practices and academic medical centers, has opened a St.
Louis office for its Midwest operations. Firm principal Jim Lord,
a Saint Louis University alumnus, has returned to St. Louis from
Seattle to open the new office.
“St. Louis was a natural choice for us,” stated Lord. “Its central
location makes the rest of the country accessible by air, the local
healthcare community is world class, and it is a great place to
live and work. We look forward to rapidly growing our St. Louis
office to better serve our clients.”
In addition to its Seattle headquarters, the company has offices
in Boston, San Diego and Washington, D.C.
RITZ-CARLTON ST. LOUIS EARNS FOUR-STAR HOTEL
AWARD
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, received the 2006 Mobil Four-Star Award
for the second consecutive year from the Mobil Travel Guide, developer
of the Mobil star rating program for lodgings, spas and restaurants.
The award is presented to hotels that demonstrate an ongoing commitment
to superlative service and hospitality while providing luxurious
accommodations. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, is the only four-star
hotel in Missouri.
MAYOR SLAY AND DOWNTOWN NOW! PARTNERS EARN
NATIONAL ACCLAIM
Mayor Francis Slay and the Downtown Now! partners were honored by
the Partners for Livable Communities at its Celebration of Vision
and Community Spirit awards program in Washington, D.C.
Governing
Magazine editor and publisher presents Partners award
to Mayor Slay, joined by Downtown Now! Executive Director
Tom Reeves; SLDC Director Rodney Crim; Downtown Partnership
President Jim Cloar; Deputy Mayor for Development
Barbara Geisman; Former RCGA Chairman John Bachmann;
Congressman Lacy Clay; St. Louis American Publisher
and RCGA Board Member Don Suggs; Downtown Foundation
President Peter Sortino; and RCGA President Dick Fleming.
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The mayor and his Downtown Now! partners earned an Entrepreneurial
American Leadership Award “in recognition of what national journalist
Neal Peirce recently described as one of the most remarkable center
city transformations in the nation, through a public/private partnership
which has stimulated over $3.3 billion in downtown revitalization
in just the past five years,” according to The Partners for Livable
Communities.
The Partners for Livable Communities is a nonprofit national leadership
organization working to improve the livability of communities by
promoting quality of life, economic development and social equity.
MONSANTO’S NEW DATA CENTER
Monsanto recently broke ground for a new information technology
data center on the site of its world headquarters in Creve Coeur,
Mo.
The new building will be the most efficient and cost-effective approach
to provide for the company’s global data center capabilities well
into the future.
“The new data center in St. Louis will give our employees additional
capabilities to keep Monsanto at the forefront of the agricultural
technology industry,” said Monsanto’s Chief Information Officer
Mark Showers. “Not only are we investing in Monsanto’s future by
ensuring that our IT capabilities meet and exceed the global demands
of our business, but we’re also investing in the St. Louis community
through continued growth and innovation.”
The company has retained the services of Fox Architects for design,
with William Tao & Associates as the lead engineering firm.
The data center could be occupied as early as the summer of 2007.
U.S. CELLULAR DONATES $60,000 TO LIBRARY
FOUNDATION
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U.S.
Cellular awards grant to St. Louis County Library
Foundation for purchase of a new bookmobile. (Left
to right): Preschooler, Bailey Amberg; St. Louis
County Executive, Charlie A. Dooley; St. Louis County
Library Assistant Director, George Durnell; first
grader, Hannah Modglin; and U.S. Cellular Director
of Sales in St. Louis, Denise Hutton. |
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U.S. Cellular has awarded a $60,000 grant to the St. Louis County
Library Foundation that will be used to purchase a new bookmobile
and to fund reading and learning programs. The new bookmobile measures
38 feet in length, stands just over nine feet high, and holds approximately
4,500 books.
“Bookmobiles are a highly valued educational tool in St. Louis and
are often the first experience children have with a library,” stated
C. Daniel Wilson Jr., director of the St. Louis County Library.
“U.S. Cellular’s strong commitment to reading and learning programs
will ensure that the St. Louis County community can continue to
enjoy the bookmobile program.”
PLANS FOR RIVERFRONT PARK IN EAST ST. LOUIS
WIN APPROVAL
The Metro East Park and Recreation District’s plans for an expansive
31-acre park on the East St. Louis riverfront are one step closer
to fruition after receiving approval from the East St. Louis City
Council’s community development committee. The committee approved
plans for the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park, and authorized the
creation of the Malcolm W. Martin Conservation District to facilitate
the project’s development.
Anchored by the Gateway Geyser, the public park will provide spectacular
views of the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River, and will host
an amphitheater for school and community performances. Plans also
call for a cultural interpretive area that commemorates the history
and people of East St. Louis and a natural interpretive area for
educating children about the Mississippi River ecosystem.
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Susan
Saarinen, daughter of famed Arch architect Eero Saarinen
(right), and Carl Officer, mayor of East St.
Louis, Ill., (right) “flip the switch” to illuminate
the Gateway Geyser during a ceremonial lighting of
the Geyser. |
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“Our hope is that the new park will turn the East St. Louis Riverfront
into a regional destination, and will serve as a catalyst for further
revitalization in the City of East St. Louis,” stated Pam Hogan,
president of the Metro East Park and Recreation District. “It will
create construction job opportunities, as well as long term jobs
in areas such as grounds maintenance and security. And, as a future
tourism destination, it will bring visitors and their dollars into
our community.”
Architectural firm HOK developed the plans in conjunction with the
park district. Gateway Center, founded by the late Malcolm W. Martin,
the philanthropist who raised the funds to protect the tract of
Illinois riverfront across from the Arch from commercial development.
Construction on the park can begin at no cost to the city of East
St. Louis thanks to $2.5 million in funding from Gateway Center.
CONSTRUCTION CAREERS CENTER DEDICATES BUILDING
TO VISIONARY RICH GREBEL
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Richard
A. Grebel |
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The Construction Careers Center, a charter high school focused on
preparing students for jobs in the construction industry, has dedicated
its school building in honor of the late Richard A. Grebel, the
visionary behind the school’s concept. Grebel envisioned an inclusive
educational opportunity for all young adults so that they could
grow in their chosen fields after graduation. The center’s first
class graduated in June 2005.
Grebel served as president of KCI Construction Company at the time
of his death in April 2005. He also served as past president of
the board of directors for the Associated General Contractors of
St. Louis. The Associated General Contractors operates the Construction
Careers Center.
PROPOSITION EJ-EDUCATION AND JOBS
The RCGA Public Policy Council supported the proposed tax increase
for St. Louis Community College as necessary to the health and vitality
of our region’s workforce. The money raised will help to modernize
the area campuses and improve job-training programs to meet local
employment demands. It is part of the GROWTH initiative underway
at St. Louis Community College.
Most recently the GROWTH (Greater Regional Opportunities for Workforce
Training and Higher Education) project saw more than 300 community
residents participate with their recommendations for improvement
presented to the College’s Board of Trustees.
The Board determined that additional financial resources are needed
to address the recommendations and plan the future growth of SLCC.
Each year, more than 130,000 citizens are touched by SLCC in the
region. Research shows that nearly one-half of the households in
the area include at least one person who has taken a course at SLCC.
During the 2005 academic year, 45,000 students enrolled in traditional
college credit programs, while more than 70,000 students enrolled
in continuing education, career and workforce development programs.
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR EARNS LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
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Dr.
Lee Nelken Robins, professor emeritus of psychiatry,
Washington University School of Medicine. |
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The Academy of Science-St. Louis has announced the winners of the
12th annual Outstanding St. Louis Scientists Awards. Dr. Lee Nelken
Robins, professor emeritus of psychiatry at Washington University
School of Medicine, received the Peter H. Raven Lifetime Award for
her groundbreaking work in the field of psychiatric epidemiology.
The award is presented to an established St. Louis scientist with
a distinguished career of service in science and/or engineering.
The academy also presented the following honors:
- Trustees’
Award:
Dr. Thomas Woolsey, professor of neurological surgery
at Washington University School of Medicine
- James
B. Eads Award: Robert Horsch, vice president of international
development partnerships at Monsanto
- Fellows
Awards: (two recipients) Raymond Arvidson, co-principal
investigator of the Mars Rover Mission and chairman of
Washington University’s department of Earth and planetary
sciences, and Barbara Schaal, vice president of the National
Academy of Sciences and a professor in biology at Washington
University
- Science
Educator Award: Ken Mares, director of the Collaborative
for Applied Experiences in Science
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HENNEMAN,
RAUFEISEN AND ASSOCIATES CHANGES NAME
Henneman, Raufeisen and Associates Inc. has changed its name to
Henneman Engineering Inc. The firm has developed a new look and
logo to reflect the change and highlight its strengths as a multidisciplined
engineering firm.
“This name change more accurately reflects our focus and reinforces
the strengths of our engineering practice,” stated Michael J. Henneman,
the company’s chairman and CEO. “Our commitment to excellence in
engineering forms the basis for all we do at Henneman.”
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM/WASHU LAUNCH THE CHILDREN'S
DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University’s School
of Medicine have launched a $355 million endeavor to accelerate
cures for certain childhood diseases. The collaboration—called The
Children’s Discovery Institute—will focus on four childhood diseases:
congenital heart disease, cancer, lung and respiratory disorders,
and muscle and skeletal diseases. Scientists and physicians will
work hand in hand to decode the diseases’ genetic blueprints and
use them to find cures.
“We already have the sequence of the human genome, much of which
was mapped at Washington University in St. Louis,” stated Dr. Alan
Schwartz, pediatrician-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
and chairman of the department of pediatrics at Washington University
School of Medicine. “The CDI is a unique plan to build a high-speed
connection between this fundamental knowledge of our genetic code
and the patient’s bedside, so the knowledge can flow and translate
directly into cures for disease. This isn’t being done anywhere
else.”
St. Louis Children’s Hospital started a $125 million fundraising
campaign to launch the institute and expand its facilities. Construction
started last year on a 95,000-square-foot addition to seven stories
of the hospital’s existing 12-story structure. Washington University
also plans to add a seven-story physician office tower atop the
Children’s Hospital visitor garage to accommodate the growing physician
and faculty population.
TONY'S WINS MOBIL FOUR-STAR AWARD
Tony’s restaurant has been honored with a 2006 Mobil Four-Star Award
by the Mobil Travel Guide, an annual publication of hotels, restaurants,
attractions and events in the United States and Canada. Tony’s is
the only four-star restaurant in St. Louis and is among the top
two percent of restaurants and hotels listed by the guide. The awards
program recognizes outstanding achievement in facilities, service
and provision of a distinctive experience for discerning customers.
CIVIL PICTURES WINS AWARD FOR WORLD'S FAIR
DOCUMENTARY
Civil Pictures has won a CINE Golden Eagle Award for its feature-length
documentary about the 1904 Word’s Fair, “The World’s Greatest Fair.”
The CINE Golden Eagle Awards recognize excellence in documentary
and other informational film and video production.
Civil Pictures and parent company Technisonic, a St. Louis production
facility, spent more than a year and a half creating the documentary,
using the latest in high definition digital cinema. The film features
hundreds of never-before-seen images from rare film footage of the
fair and interviews with nationally recognized historians. Quotes
from those who attended the fair are read by current-day St. Louisans
like Stan Musial, Ozzie Smith, Mayor Slay and past mayors of the
city, and dozens of others.
“We are humbled to be honored by such a prestigious group of our
peers,” stated Bob Miano, who co-directed the film with Scott Huegerich.
“We poured passion and a genuine appreciation for this fascinating
story into the film, and it shows in the finished product.”
Entries for the CINE Golden Eagle awards were judged last fall by
more than 300 judges from the fields of film and video production.
Past award winners include Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Ken
Burns.
FIRST CABELA'S RECRUITED TO ST. LOUIS
The city of Hazelwood will contribute $5 million to a new Cabela’s
retail store that is scheduled to open late this fall at St. Louis
Mills mall. The Hazelwood store will be the first in Missouri for
Cabela’s, a Nebraska-based hunting, fishing and outdoor retailer.
The funds will finance the store’s trademark nature museum, which
features a towering mountain replica with running waterfalls and
trophy animals, a gigantic freshwater aquarium, and museum-quality
representations of wild-game species.
Ultimately, Cabela’s will repay the $5 million with revenue generated
from sales tax. The company plans to invest between $20 million
and $30 million in the Hazelwood location and will hire approximately
250 people.
“Cabela’s will be a great addition to the St. Louis Mills and their
decision to locate here is an indication of the vitality of Hazelwood
as a tourist and shopping attraction,” stated Hazelwood Mayor T.R.
Carr. |
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