St. Louis Commerce Magazine

Mayor Clarence Harmon and Richard Baron at the St. Louis Award ceremony held on November 10 at Jefferson Elementary School. The St. Louis Award is presented to an individual who has made a most outstanding contribution or has brought the greatest distinction to the St. Louis community during the course of the year.

Above: Mayor Clarence Harmon and Richard Baron at the St. Louis Award ceremony held on November 10 at Jefferson Elementary School. The St. Louis Award is presented to an individual who has made a most outstanding contribution or has brought the greatest distinction to the St. Louis community during the course of the year.

Developer Receives St. Louis Award for Revitalization of Inner City Communities

Developer Richard Baron, president and chief executive officer of McCormack Baron, received the St. Louis Award for his part in bringing national and international attention to the St. Louis area through his efforts in rebuilding inner city neighborhoods. Dr. William H. Danforth presented the award to Baron for “his innovative and comprehensive approach to neighborhood development, linked with his drive to involve residents in the design, development and management of their living spaces, as well as his passionate belief in the importance of public schools as essential to healthy neighborhoods.”

In response to the lack of children’s programming in the area of performing arts, for example, Baron created the Center of Contemporary Arts (COCA) in 1985. Baron’s efforts to reverse the effects of more than 15 years of busing on hundreds of families living in the Murphy Park community, for example, has resulted in a unique partnership between St. Louis business and philanthropic communities and the Board of Education. In addition to Murphy Park, McCormack Baron has developed thousands of housing units in the City of St. Louis, including Westminster Place and McCormack House. The firm is currently involved in the restoration of Cupples Station into a four-star Westin Hotel, office complex and housing.

McDonnell Receives McKendree College Excellence in Enterprise Award

Sanford McDonnell, emeritus of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, is the recipient of The McKendree College Excellence in Enterprise Award for 1999. The award includes a scholarship to a student, Crystal Schallenberg, a junior accounting major at McKendree.

Like McKendree College, McDonnell has a history of pro-activism in the area of character development. As chairman of McDonnell Douglas, he helped focus national attention on the importance of ethics in all areas of life. He is chairman of CHARACTERplus, formerly PREP (Personal Responsibility Education Process), a character education program that he helped organize in 1988 in the public schools of Greater St. Louis. Although McDonnell is no longer responsible for a “bottom line” after he retired as CEO of McDonnell Douglas in 1988, he is interested in a front line—“a battle for the hearts and minds of our young people,” he says.

“Character without knowledge is weak and feeble, but knowledge without character is dangerous and a potential menace to society,” McDonnell says. “A great deal of emphasis these days is placed on raising academic standards and motivating young people to meet those higher standards, but not enough thought and attention has been given to the character side of the equation.”

McKendree College, recognized for the third consecutive year in America’s 100 Best College Buys, is a prestigious, student-centered, private, liberal arts institution founded in 1828.

Steven H. Lipstein, recently named president and CEO, BJC Health System

Above: Steven H. Lipstein, recently named president and CEO, BJC Health System

Lipstein Appointed BJC President and CEO

Steven Lipstein has been appointed as the new president and chief executive officer of BJC Health System, one of the largest non-profit health-care systems in the United States and the largest employer in St. Louis, with annual net revenues totaling $1.9 billion

Lipstein was previously the executive vice president at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System and president and chief operating officer of the University of Chicago Hospitals, which is the primary teaching affiliate of the highly regarded University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. During his six-year tenure at The University of Chicago, Lipstein led the construction and opening of a state-of-the-art Center for Advanced Medicine and advanced the University of Chicago’s reputation for service quality excellence. Under his leadership, the University of Chicago Hospitals ranked among the best hospitals in the United States in U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey of America’s best hospitals.

In other BJC related news, Roger Meyer was named vice president of Children’s Health Foundation at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, a member of BJC Health System and affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine. With 23 years of development experience, Meyer most recently worked as director of development for medical sciences at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Sherley Antey, newly appointed president of Envision, Inc.

Above: Sherley Antey, newly appointed president of Envision, Inc.

Antey Takes Reigns as Envision President

Envision, Inc., a St. Louis-based technology company, appointed Sherley Antey as president. In addition to branch management, Antey’s other responsibilities include new business development and management of the corporate financial, human resources and personnel departments.

Prior to joining Envision, Antey worked as assistant manager for Ajilon, Inc. in Somerset, N.J., where she managed sales, recruiting, technical and administrative personnel.

Managing Director Named VP of TWA’s Labor Relations

The board of directors of Trans World Airlines, Inc. has announced the election of Terry Hayes to vice president, labor relations. As TWA’s former managing director of labor relations, Hayes played a key role in the successful negotiation of new collective bargaining agreements with all of TWA’s unions in 1998 and 1999. In his new position, he maintains productive relations with all of TWA’s unions as well as direct future contract negotiations.

Hayes began his airline career in 1974 as a customer service agent with Ozark Airlines at Chicago O’Hare airport. During his 25-year career with Ozark and TWA, Hayes has held a number of positions in the areas of crew scheduling, manpower planning and labor relations.

Tracy Elsperman Hart (center) has been named president of Tarlton Corp., a St. Louis-based general contracting and construction management firm. Dirk Elsperman (left) has been named chief operating officer and executive vice president, and John Doerr (right) senior vice president of the family-owned company.

Above: Tracy Elsperman Hart (center) has been named president of Tarlton Corp., a St. Louis-based general contracting and construction management firm. Dirk Elsperman (left) has been named chief operating officer and executive vice president, and John Doerr (right) senior vice president of the family-owned company.

Tarlton Announces Top Management Promotions To Establish Executive Team

Tarlton Corp., a St. Louis-based general contracting and construction firm, has developed an executive management team of Tracy Elsperman Hart as president; Dirk Elsperman as chief operating officer and executive vice president; and John Doerr as senior vice president.

“Businesses in our industry are run very differently than they were 20 years ago. We are an operations-driven company, and that takes a team to execute responsibilities most efficiently,” says Hart, who is the only woman serving as president of one of the 20 largest general contractors in St. Louis. As the former vice president and director of client services, Hart also is believed to be one of only a handful of women nationally leading a major general contracting firm. In her new role, she will oversee all management functions outside of day-to-day operations at family-owned Tarlton and work closely with other corporate officers in a “management team” approach.

Hart and Elsperman, who are siblings, are the third generation of the Elsperman family to serve as corporate officers of Tarlton. Elsperman most recently managed the creation of the new $2 million Tarlton Equipment and Maintenance (TEAM) facility, a state-of-the-art building located at Tarlton’s long-time headquarters in the historic Cheltenham neighborhood.

In his new position, Doerr will guide all estimating and preconstruction services for Tarlton, as well as supervise all project management personnel.

Dohr Joins Gundaker Management Team as VP of Finance

Jim Dohr has accepted the position of vice president of finance at Gundaker REALTORS/Better Homes and Gardens, the St. Louis area’s leading residential real estate firm with more than 30 offices and more than 2,000 associates. Dohr was previously the vice president of finance and administration at Coldwell Banker and the chief administrative officer for the Coldwell Banker in the Baltimore/Washington area.

Kathleen Flemming, president and CEO of Frontenac Bank

Above: Kathleen Flemming, president and CEO of Frontenac Bank

CID Appoints Flemming to Board

Kathleen Flemming, president and chief executive officer of Frontenac Bank, has been appointed to the board of managers at Central Institute for the Deaf (CID).

Flemming, 39, organized and founded Frontenac Bank in early 1999 and is thought to be the youngest woman in Missouri and possibly the United States to both organize and run a bank.

The CID board of managers has provided foresight and leadership in regards to CID’s current $30 million capital campaign with the construction of new educational and research facilities and the recruitment and retention of top scientists who research the causes and solutions to hearing loss.

MPP&W Announces Partner Promotions

Richard Eberle Jr., CPA, has been promoted to partner for Mueller Prost Purk & Willbrand (MPP&W), P.C., one of the areas largest St. Louis-based professional services firms.

As the director of MPP&W’s Tax Services Group and the partner-in-charge of International Tax Services, Eberle helps clients understand the complex tax issues and plans effective strategies to deal with international tax challenges.

Kenneth A. Geragosian, CPA, has been promoted to partner and director of MPP&W’s Manufacturing, Wholesale Distribution and Retail Service Team. In his new position, he helps these organizations improve operational efficiency and increase value. Additionally, he assists the company’s owners in cash management, inventory management, developing tax strategies, creative incentive compensation programs and planning the succession of the organization.

Adam J. Herman has been promoted to partner and director of MPP&W’s Business Insights Group. In his new role, his specialty is to advise clients in mergers, acquisitions and deal structuring.

MPP&W provides financial services, tax compliance and planning, technical specialists and business consulting and assurance services for entrepreneurial companies, not-for-profit agencies and high net worth individuals. The firm assists with revenue growth, profit enhancement, benchmarking, regulatory compliance, strategic positioning and information technology/systems consulting.

Amerinet Names VP of Medical/Surgical Division

AmeriNet, Inc., the largest membership-based health care group purchasing organization (GPO) in the United States, has named Gary Kane vice president of its medical/surgical division. In his new position, Kane directs the team of managers who develop and maintain the medical/surgical contracting portfolio and optimizes contracts for maximum shareholder value.

Before joining AmeriNet, Kane was vice president of sales and marketing operations at Sherwood, Davis & Geck, a medical device manufacturer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southeast Missouri State University.

Founded in 1986, the St. Louis-headquartered AmeriNet operates through its three shareholder health organizations: Hospital Shared Services, Intermountain Health Care, Inc. and Vector. It represents more than 9,200 member facilities in all 50 states, including hospitals, medical group practices, nursing homes, surgery centers, managed care organizations, pharmacies and integrated delivery networks.

Above Right: Belinda May, principal at Suelthaus & Walsh
Above Left:Alan Witte, principal at Suelthaus & Walsh

May and Witte Join Suelthaus & Walsh as New Principals

Attorneys Belinda May and Alan Witte have joined the law firm of Suelthaus & Walsh, P.C. May joined the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Protection Group. Her law practice, which is concentrated in the rapidly growing areas of intellectual property law and Internet law, includes trademarks, service marks and licensing matters for clients such as Mary Engelbreit Studios, Inc., LaserVision Center, Inc., Millennium Digital Media, Renaissance Financial and Tri-Tek Information Systems, Inc.

With 25 years of experience as a transactional attorney, Witte joined the firm’s Financial Services Group. His career includes the structure and direction of a series of complex acquisitions valued at $400 million in asset backed securities; the negotiation of a complex joint venture between a U.K. client and a U.S. Fortune 500 company; and the conceptualization, structure and closure of an acquisition of one of the largest U.S. mortgage service providers. He also served as deputy general counsel of ITT Commercial Finance Corp. and later as general counsel and secretary of ITT Diversified Financial Corporation.

Brown Shoe Appoints CFO, Board of Director Member

Brown Shoe Company, Inc. has appointed senior vice president and treasurer Andrew Rosen to the additional position of chief financial officer. He replaces Harry E. Rich, who served Brown Shoe for 16 years before he retired in December 1999.

As CFO, Rosen will oversee treasury, finance and accounting, risk management, benefits, executive compensation, security and investor relations/public affairs.

Robert Stadler, Jr. was promoted to the position of vice president of administration for Brown Shoe and senior vice president of finance for its Brown Branded division. In his newly created position, Stadler is also responsible for the company’s administration, information system, distribution and logistics, and facilities management functions.

W. Patrick McGinnis, chief executive officer and president of Ralston Purina Company, has been elected to the board of directors at Brown Shoe, increasing the number of board members from eight to nine.

Frank Martin

Above: Frank Martin

Martin Named Chairman, CEO of Nooter

Frank Martin, former vice chairman of Nooter Corporation, was named chairman and chief executive officer of the company. He replaces George P. Bouckaert, who established the holding company in 1998 and has retired to assume the title of Chairman Emeritus.

Nooter Corporation currently leads a family of 13 companies, providing engineered solutions to a wide range of industries through innovative metal work technology, fabrication and construction. The firm has plants and offices worldwide.

Frank Martin, a 40-year veteran of the corporation, began his career in 1959 as a sales engineer at Missouri Boiler and Tank Company, a former division of Nooter Corporation. He was elected to the corporate board of directors in 1983 and made vice president in 1986. He served as chairman of the board and president of St. Louis Metallizing Company, a corporate subsidiary, beginning in 1990.

Craig M. Lucas, vice president of operations, Kwame Building Group, Inc.

Above: Craig M. Lucas, vice president of operations, Kwame Building Group, Inc.

Kwame Building Group Appoints VP of Operations

Craig M. Lucas, P.E., has been appointed to vice president of operations for Kwame Building Group, Inc., a pure program and construction management firm providing estimating, scheduling, project planning, and value engineering and other project management services as an independent advocate for owners and developers.

With 19 years of experience in project management and design engineering, Lucas is responsible for overall management of all public and private sector projects and budgets. Lucas also helps develop and administer company policies and long-range strategies.

He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla and is currently pursing a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.

Commerce Bank Names Stranghoener President, Investment Management Group

As the newly appointed president of the Investment Management Group of Commerce Bank, which has $9.5 billion in assets under management and responsibility for $19 billion in assets under administration. V. Raymond Stranghoener is responsible for the company’s trust and money management operation and client relationships throughout the Midwest. He also was named senior vice president of Commerce Bank’s parent company, Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

Stranghoener was previously St. Louis market executive at Bank of America Private Bank and subsequently the national executive of the Bank of America Private Bank Wealth Strategies Group, based in St. Louis. He spent 17 years as a partner at Bryan Cave and then in 1993 joined Boatmen’s Trust Company, where he served as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary. He also served as national group manager of the Closely Held Business, Real Estate and Special Assets Division at Boatmen’s.

Ronald J. Clifford, executive vice president of HBE Corporation

Above: Ronald J. Clifford, executive vice president of HBE Corporation

HBE Promotes Clifford to Executive VP

Ronald J. Clifford has been promoted to executive vice president, business development for HBE’s Healthcare Facilities Group. In this position, Clifford will lead the company’s Hospital Building and Equipment Company division in the identification and cultivation of design-build projects nationwide.

When Clifford joined the company in 1993 as a regional vice president, he had more than 20 years experience in hospital administration and as a chief executive officer. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn.

Forbes magazine ranked HBE Corporation among the top 500 privately held companies in the United States; Engineering News-Record ranked HBE 26th in leading national design-build firms.

Variety Club Elects Board Members

The St. Louis Variety Club, a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $51.1 million through its annual telethon, has elected new board members. They are Captain William F. Compton, president and chief executive officer of Trans World Airlines; Terrance C.Z. Egger, publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; and Jan Newton, president of Southwestern Bell–Missouri.

From the launch of his flying career in 1966 as a flight instructor with a small fixed-base operation to his current position at TWA, Compton’s entire career has been devoted to the business of flying. During his time at the airlines, he has piloted many different aircraft.

As a former general manager of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Egger began his affiliation with Pulitzer Publishing Company as vice president for Tucson Newspapers in Arizona.

Newton is responsible for the regulatory, legislative, governmental and external affairs and community and industry relations at Southwestern Bell throughout Missouri. She has held numerous management positions and gained experience in various functions, including finance, sales, marketing and regulatory affairs.

Former Magna Executive Joins Allsup

Ronald Buerges, former senior executive vice president of Magna Group, Inc., has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer for Belleville’s Allsup Incorporated.

Allsup is a disability financial services company and the country’s first private firm to represent people nationwide for the Social Security disability benefits. Allsup has helped more than 35,000 people from all 50 states receive their entitled Social Security disability benefits.

With an extensive managerial background, Buerges will focus on the growth of the company; expedite and capitalize on the delivery of several new products and services; and integrate a variety of new financial services, including benefits, financial and medical management.

Founded in 1984, Allsup is a three-time winner of the Inc. 500 award, which is given to the fastest growing private companies in America.