MIDAMERICA AIRPORT LANDS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
On October 30, an audience of about 60 people watched a DC-10 cargo plane carrying roughly 15 tons of flowers land at MidAmerica Airport from Bogotá, Colombia, making it the airport’s first regularly scheduled international cargo flight.
The flowers previously were flown from Colombia to Miami, and were then transported and delivered throughout the Midwest by truck.
Every week floral shipments will arrive as a result of a joint venture, Fresh Connections, made up of Teqflor International Logistics, management company Mission Cargo and wholesale floral distributor Baisch and Skinner. Flowers will be stored in the airport warehouse, and distributed to floral wholesalers.
“Being positioned as a distribution hub for plane shipments of imported and exported goods speaks to the significance of Southwestern Illinois’ intermodal capabilities,” stated St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern. “These are the first, direct intercontinental cargo flights to utilize our distribution and warehouse offerings. It’s great news for St. Clair County and the entire St. Louis Metropolitan region.”
Airport officials hope to attract domestic shippers looking to fly cargo to South America, and as MidAmerica continues to handle flights with greater amounts of cargo, it will demonstrate that it can be more efficient than larger operations in the Midwest, which could be especially attractive to companies in Asia.
Tim Cantwell, Director of MidAmerica
St. Louis Airport, explained that the flowers are just the beginning for international commerce between continents. He said, “We are trying to increase local business by reaching out to the world. We don’t look at air commerce as a business qualifier, but as a multiplier.”
As a next step for MidAmerica, Cantwell shared, “We are promoting a quarterly symposium for everyone. The plan is to assist with transportation, so that businesses can learn how to use intermodal tools in this region. This will go beyond discussion, actual tools will be provided for international commerce.”
VESCO COURIER OFFERS FREE FREIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAY
Vesco Courier Inc. is a proud supporter of the St. Louis Metro Area Food Banks this holiday season. When you schedule a courier pick up with Vesco Courier Inc. between now and Jan. 4th, 2009 your second skid spot is free with the donation of one case of non-perishable food items (donations must be made each time, unless you give a corporate donation). The goal is to raise 1,000 cases to donate and distribute between some of the local area food banks.
Here is an example of how it works:
2 skids ordered and shipped
1st Skid = $42.50
2nd Skid = free (with donation of one case of non-perishable food item)
(12 cans = a case)
(30 cases = a corporate donation)
Or if you schedule a LTL or full truckload, you will receive 10 percent off your billed charge if you make a corporate donation to their cause. (Donations must be made every five shipments to qualify for discount.)
Here is an example of how it works:
1 truckload shipped
through vesco for $1000
Your Corporate donation
of 30 Cases -10%= $100
Total owed to Vesco
for Truckload $900
They will also be taking orders to pick up your other non-perishable food items even if you don’t ship any freight with Vesco and are just willing to give to the cause.
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES SECOND ANNUAL ENTREPRENEURIAL ALUMNI HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Saint Louis University’s Center for Entrepreneurship has selected seven inductees for the 2008 Smurfit-Stone Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame. The annual award, launched in 2007 to recognize entrepreneurial innovation and leadership, honors Saint Louis University alumni for outstanding contributions to business and the community.
SLU’s Entrepreneurial Alumni Hall of Fame selection committee chose winners in five categories: corporate/organizational, large enterprise, entrepreneurial business venture, 40 and under, and social entrepreneurship. A blue-ribbon panel of judges from the St. Louis business community selected the winners from a pool of alumni entrepreneur nominees submitted by mail and online throughout June and July.
The inductees are as follows:
Entrepreneurial Business Venture
• Walter S. Hoy (‘56), CEO of Fox Lite Inc.
• Joseph G. Lipic Sr. (‘57), board chairman and CEO at Alexander Manufacturing
Large Enterprise
• Charles Henry O’Reilly Jr. (‘61),
vice chairman of the board at
O’Reilly Automotive
• Rex Sinquefield (‘67), co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors
Corporate/Organizational
• Eugene F. Kranz (‘54), retired NASA flight director, Gemini-Apollo
Social Entrepreneurship
• C. Michael Savage (‘74), former CEO of ACCESS Community Health Network (awarded posthumously)
40 and Under
• Cherie Giessman DiNola (‘95), president and founder, Shelby Financial Group
Richard Fleming, president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, served as a member of the selection committee that chose the 2008 Hall of Fame inductees.
“Reviewing the biographies of so many remarkable and accomplished nominees emphasizes the significance of SLU's programs in helping build a strong region of entrepreneurs and leaders," stated Fleming. "In addition to their contributions to business, the inductees also are committed to building a stronger community through their support of educational, civic, social and charitable activities."
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL ST. LOUIS IS CITY'S FIRST AAA FIVE DIAMOND PROPERTY
Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis was recently awarded recognition as an AAA Five Diamond property. This is the first time that St. Louis has had an AAA Five Diamond hotel. Only 0.28 percent of the 58,000 diamond-rated lodgings and restaurants throughout North America are given this prestigious award.
Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis is the only AAA Five Diamond property in Missouri and is one of only 10 hotels added to this year’s list of 103 hotels.
“We are thrilled and honored to receive this designation. This award would not be possible without the tireless efforts of our employees who create exceptional experiences for our guests each day. We are proud to have been recognized for this achievement in less than one year of the hotel being open,” said Thierry Kennel, general manager of Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis.
Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis received this award after multiple blind evaluations by a panel of experts. The hotel was physically rated on 75 different benchmarks and staff was evaluated on 228 individual standards.
Located in the Lumiére Place development, the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis has 200 guest rooms, the Cielo bar and restaurant, a full-service spa, and a 25,000-square-foot outdoor terrace that overlooks the Arch and the downtown skyline. Four Seasons is the world’s leading operator of luxury hotels with 83 hotels in 31 countries.
ST. LOUIS WILL HOST 2012 WORLD EDUCATION CONGRESS
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has announced that St. Louis will be the host city for its World Education Congress (WEC) in 2012. The MPI World Education Congress is MPI’s largest gathering of meeting and event professionals from around the globe. The annual conference and expo draws thousands of industry planners and suppliers to learn, connect and exchange ideas.
“MPI, the meetings and events industry’s largest and most vibrant global community, is comprised of more than 24,000 members belonging to 69 chapters and clubs worldwide,” wrote Kathleen M. Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, in an e-mail to commission members and community shareholders. “What sets this event apart from other meetings or sporting events that St. Louis hosts is that MPI WEC attendees represent organizations that hold their own meetings and conventions. In 2012, WEC attendees will experience St. Louis and weigh our community as an option for their future meetings and conventions.”
MPI’s board of directors approved sites for 2011 through 2013 that fulfill its strategic imperatives to elevate content, member experiences and conversation. The organization’s mission is to create a rich learning experience and global marketplace opportunity, making attendees more successful.
NEW BOOK CHRONICLES STORY OF ST. LOUIS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
In 1968, a 20-year-old trumpet player from University City, Mo., named Steve Schankman enlisted grade-school classmate Irv Zuckerman to help book local bands. Over the next 30 years, they built a company that became one of the country’s largest entertainment production houses, Contemporary Productions. Their journey is the subject of Produced by Contemporary, a new hardback, coffee-table book written by Dick Richmond with Schankman.
Some of Contemporary Productions’ landmark events included a 1969 concert at the Fox Theatre with a new band called the Grateful Dead, a surprise 1978 concert at the 3,500-seat Kiel Opera House with the Rolling Stones, and a 1999 visit by Pope John Paul II, who appeared at what is now called the Edward Jones Dome. Contemporary also helped develop the careers of comedians Tim Allen, Roseanne Barr and Louie Anderson, according to the company.
Spanning the company’s history from 1960 to 2000, the book includes more than 500 photos and images from the company’s archives. These include many unseen original backstage passes and tickets, as well as photos of artists as diverse as the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, Bernadette Peters and Jay Leno.
VECTOR COMMUNICATIONS WINS NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD
Vector Communications Corporation, a
St. Louis-based public engagement and
communications consulting firm, received the NBMBAA (National Black MBA Association)/Wells Fargo Entrepreneur Excellence Award during the National Black MBA Association’s conference in Washington, D.C.
Vector was selected from a nationwide pool and evaluated based on its business performance, innovation, growth and personal service to the community. The company’s cofounders, Laurna Godwin and Jessica Perkins, accepted the award, which included a $5,000 check.
“We are honored to be recognized for Vector’s work in advancing learning, dialogue and positive change between governments, corporations and non-profits and the communities they serve,” stated Godwin.
The other award recipient was Ashtae Products Inc. of Greensboro, N.C.
“We are delighted to honor two recipients this year,” stated Barbara L. Thomas, president and CEO of the NBMBAA. “Our award winners are solid examples of how entrepreneurs can turn interests and proficiencies into enterprise. It is even more laudable that both of these small businesses have found time and resources to introduce and nurture endeavors that serve and strengthen their communities, making them true role models.”
Vector was nominated by one of its employees, Paula Hughes, who received a $1,500 award. The St. Louis chapter of the NBMBAA received a $1,000 check.
LEGAL SERVICES OF EASTERN MISSOURI'S LASTING SOLUTIONS PROGRAM RECEIVES $150,000 GRANT FROM MISSOURI FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s Lasting Solutions Program has received a three-year, $150,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The Lasting Solutions Program provides holistic services to assist victims of domestic violence, including Orders of Protection, paternity, divorce and child custody. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri also provides community education and social services to assist victims of abuse.
“We cannot thank the Missouri Foundation for Health enough for the generous grant,” stated Jay Fisk, managing attorney for the Lasting Solutions Program. “By funding our Lasting Solutions Program, MFH recognizes that legal work is one of the most effective tools to aid women in achieving physical safety, health, and the financial security they need to leave their abusers and, ultimately, to end the cycle of violence in their lives.”
The program is one of 15 agencies in Missouri that received a share of $2.3 million in grants from the foundation’s Violence Against Women program. Established in 2000, MFH is the largest nongovernmental funder of community health activities in Missouri. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an independent, nonprofit organization that has provided high-quality legal assistance in civil cases to the low-income community for more than 50 years.
ENGLISH COUPLE VISITS ALL 50 STATES AFTER PURCHASING A PUZZLE FROM THE GATEWAY ARCH GIFT SHOP
In September, Ruth and Terry Harvey of Witley village in Surrey, England, fulfilled a 15-year-long quest to visit all 50 states in America. Their journey was inspired years ago by a purchase from the Jefferson National Parks Association at the Gateway Arch gift shop, according to a USA Today article by Mary Nevans-Pederson on Sept. 29.
Initially Ruth didn’t want to visit the United States, thinking that Americans were “loud and bombastic,” according to the article. But Terry surprised her with a trip to New York City in 1993 to celebrate their 25th anniversary that changed her mind. The couple wound up planning trips around the U.S. and eventually bought a wooden children’s puzzle from the Arch gift shop that inspired them to visit each state.
“Every state was a puzzle piece and we decided to glue in each state after we visited it,” explains Terry in the article.
Fifteen years after purchasing that puzzle piece, the Harveys arrived in Dubuque, Iowa, completing their mission.
“We see millions of visitors every year, yet we usually don’t often get to see the fruit of our labor,” wrote David A. Grove, executive director and CEO of Jefferson National Parks Association, in an e-mail to the RCGA. “Of course, we believe and always knew that our products serve as tools of education and inspiration. This, however, is one of the rare times that the importance of our work has been validated and it just happened to get coverage in USA Today.”
PBS PRESIDENT KERGER VISITS KETC FOR CELEBRATION OF MILESTONES
PBS President Paula Kerger visited St. Louis recently to help KETC/Channel 9 celebrate a trio of milestones in the life of the public television station. During an anniversary week of commemorations, Kerger recognized the Dana Brown Charitable Trust for supplying major funding for the construction of Channel 9’s building in Grand Center, the KETC Kids digital channel, and the new Nine Network for Public Media.
Ten years ago, KETC moved into the Dana Brown Communications Center, a state-of-the-art television facility built through the generosity of the Dana Brown Charitable Trust. A few years later, the Trust also donated the funds necessary to launch KETC Kids, a 24-hour-per-day digital channel for children featuring PBS’s high-quality kids programming.
“Since 1954, Channel 9 had great success establishing itself as St. Louis’ public television station at our former location on Millbrook Boulevard,” stated KETC President and CEO Jack Galmiche. “After moving to Grand Center 10 years ago, our success has multiplied. In this location on Olive in the Dana Brown Communications Center, we’re able to take advantage of our proximity to other cultural organizations and share in the vibrancy of this community.
“For instance, we’ve produced many hours of programming from inside the Sheldon Concert Hall, because our facility is hard-wired across the alley to the theater,” continued Galmiche. “And now we’re expanding, building a space for the new Nine Network for Public Media so that we can further engage the community in projects that strengthen the region. We’re very pleased to be celebrating 10 years in the Dana Brown Communications Center.”
In various events on Oct. 7-8 with KETC donors, board of director members and corporate supporters, Kerger recognized the Dana Brown Charitable Trust and helped launch the Nine Network. The trust has gifted KETC with a grant to support the Nine Network for Public Media, an aggregate of trusted community partners mobilized through the power of public media.
ST. LOUIS’ ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING
PROFESSIONALS ANNOUNCES WINNERS
OF NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY AWARDS
The St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals has announced the 2008 award recipients for National Philanthropy Day. The 28th annual event, held at the Hilton St. Louis Airport hotel, recognizes outstanding community and philanthropic leaders. This year’s award winners are as follows:
Outstanding Philanthropist: Dennis & Judy Jones
Spirit of Philanthropy: Oliver Langenberg
Outstanding Philanthropic Organization:
The William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank, Trustee
Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer: S. Lee Kling (presented posthumously)
Outstanding Corporate Philanthropic Program: The Boeing Company
Outstanding Fundraising Executive: Donna McGinnis, MBE, CFRE
Special Award in Philanthropy: Donald Suggs
Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy: Key Player Initiative, Archdiocese of St. Louis
National Philanthropy Day recognizes the vibrant philanthropic community that has characterized St. Louis for generations. These individuals and organizations have helped transform their respective organizations and agencies and contributed to positive change throughout the St. Louis area.
Correction:
In the November 2008 issue of Commerce Magazine in the “Construction Roundup” section, the general contractor for the UMSL South Campus Parking Garage project should have been listed as Tarlton Corporation.
And for The Tudor Building project, the architect should have been listed as Klitzing Welsch Associates.
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