Compiled by Lauri Johnson
MAPPING
MADAGASCAR, A GLOBAL HOTSPOT OF BIODIVERSITY
The Missouri Botanical Garden has used state-of-the art remote
sensing technology and methodologies to produce the first vegetation
atlas of Madagascar, an island near the east coast of Africa
and one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
The Madagascar Vegetation Atlas shows that a mere 18 percent
of the country’s native vegetation remains intact and that a
third of its primary vegetation has disappeared since the 1970s.
It also provides insight into which types of primary vegetation
are the rarest and are currently disappearing fastest.
Home to more than an estimated 13,000 to 14,000 plant species,
more than 90 percent of which occur nowhere else on Earth, Madagascar
is a globally recognized conservation priority. The Missouri
Botanical Garden has maintained a research program in this biologically
rich island nation for more than three decades.
The atlas is the culmination of more than 20 years of research
and conservation work led by botanical and conservation institutions
in Madagascar and abroad. It provides a unique new tool that
exploits the power of Geographic Information Systems to deliver
valuable information for Madagascar’s effort to protect, manage
and sustain its exceptionally diverse flora.
GOV. BLUNT HONORED WITH TECHNOLOGY AWARD
AT LEAP IT FORWARD 2007 SUMMIT
The Missouri Enterprise Technology Association honored Gov.
Matt Blunt with the Technology Statesman of the Year Award during
its Leap IT Forward 2007 Summit on Dec. 14, 2007. The technology
summit, held at the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus,
also featured free informational sessions on hot topics in the
technology industry.
The association honored Blunt for his many contributions to
the technology sector, noting that “he has done more to create
a positive IT business climate and leverage state government’s
use of technology than any other governor in Missouri history.”
Among his accomplishments, Blunt created the Rural High-Speed
Internet Access Task Force in 2007 and the Missouri Healthcare
Information Technology Task Force in 2006. He also launched
the Missouri Accountability Portal, a database that provides
up-to-date information about state spending over the Internet.
Speakers at the summit discussed the importance and power of
“green” technology, technology education, network security,
the need for a new-and-improved Internet, and strategies for
increasing the size of Missouri’s information technology industry,
among other topics.
DOLLAR-HELP CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Dollar-Help, a regional nonprofit organization that helps the
poor with heating bills, recently marked its 25th anniversary
with proclamations presented by Gov. Matt Blunt, St. Louis County
Executive Charlie Dooley, and Bill Siedhoff, director of human
services for the city of St. Louis. Will Witherspoon, a linebacker
for the St. Louis Rams, and Laura Dierberg Padousis of Dierbergs
were recognized for their organizations’ support of Dollar-Help.
Dollar-Help was created in 1982 by Sister Pat Kelley to provide
energy assistance for the region’s less fortunate people. Over
the past 25 years, the organization has given approximately
$14.5 million in grants to help more than 35,000 families and
individuals around St. Louis pay their utility bills.
MONSANTO ANNOUNCES FRANZ INNOVATION
AWARD SCHOLARSHIP
Monsanto has created an annual scholarship to celebrate the
invention of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicides,
and to commemorate the induction of John Franz into the National
Inventor’s Hall of Fame.
Monsanto has created an endowment in Franz’s name that will
allow the Monsanto Franz Innovation Award to be given annually
to a graduate student in organic chemistry at the University
of Minnesota, where Franz received his doctorate degree. The
first recipient of the award is Elena Sizova, a fourth-year
graduate student in organic chemistry.
“Dr. Franz’s discovery helped build a product that served as
the backbone for Monsanto’s development into an agricultural
company, and we’re honored to celebrate that discovery more
than 30 years later with this scholarship and endowment,” stated
Sherri Brown, Monsanto’s chemistry lead. “His discovery was
pivotal in the history of agriculture, and we hope this scholarship
will provide future scientists similar opportunities for innovation
and advancement in agriculture and chemistry.”
Franz is a Distinguished Fellow and the recipient of the first
Queeny Award, Monsanto’s highest technical award given in recognition
of invention of significant, proprietary technology that resulted
in commercial success. He also received the National Medal of
Technology in 1987 and the Perkin Medal in 1990.
YWCA ANNOUNCES 2007 LEADERS OF DISTINCTION
YWCA Metro St. Louis has announced the names of 10 area women
who were recognized at the 27th Leader Lunch on Dec. 13 at the
Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis. The annual lunch recognizes
the contributions of women in the workplace and the community.
The YWCA Leaders of Distinction for 2007 are as follows:
• Corporate management-Joyce
Blackwell, vice president of IBM Corporation; Marie Carroll,
vice president of finance and planning for Anheuser-Busch Inc.;
Pamela Cavness, principal compliance officer for Edward Jones;
and Ann Wells, senior vice president of U.S. Bank
• Entrepreneurship-Katherine
Anderson, president of Andy’s Seasonings
• Nonprofit management-Nancy
LeMaster, vice president of supply chain for BJC HealthCare
• Media-Lynn Beall,
executive vice president of Gannett Broadcasting and president
and general manager of KSDK-TV
• Professions-Pamela
Meanes, law partner at Thompson Coburn LLP
• Racial justice-Celerstine
Johnson, Ed.D., associate vice president and director of student
educational services at Saint Louis University
• Future leader-Dong
Nghi Huynh, senior at Mehlville High School
Since its inception, the Academy of Leaders has honored more
than 250 women for their leadership in the workplace, efforts
to promote racial justice, and positive influence on colleagues,
professional women and other community members.
MARKWORT SPORTING GOODS COMPANY ACQUIRES
RIGHTS TO MANUFACTURE FACE PROTECTOR FOR ATHLETES
Markwort Sporting Goods Company has acquired the rights to manufacture
and distribute Game Face®, a face protector used by athletes
in basketball, softball, field hockey, girls’ lacrosse and soccer.
Made from polycarbonate plastic with comfortable and adjustable
foam lining, Game Face® is a lightweight yet effective option
for reducing risk of injury from line drives and other impacts
that may otherwise cause eye injuries, broken teeth, fractured
bones, concussions and other head-related injuries.
“With this acquisition, along with our recently acquired Heart-Gard®
chest protector and C-Flap® facial protector, Markwort has added
another important safety line to our offering,” stated Herb
Markwort Jr., president of Markwort Sporting Goods Company.
“Game Face® was already the hottest product in its category
in terms of sales growth, and with Markwort’s distribution and
manufacturing abilities we will be able to fully supply existing
and new customers with this exciting, highly sought after brand.”
More leagues around the country are now making the Game Face®
mandatory for pitchers, first basemen and third basemen as the
benefits to using face protection become increasingly apparent.
Markwort Sporting Goods Co. manufactures and distributes sporting
goods to retailers, importers, and wholesalers around the world.
PEABODY ENERGY CHAIRMAN AND CEO HONORED
FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Peabody Energy Chairman and CEO Gregory H. Boyce has been honored
with a Distinguished Service Award from the University of Arizona’s
college of engineering. Boyce was honored for his contributions
to the energy industry and leadership in developing innovative
solutions for America’s energy needs using clean coal technologies.
“Coal is the backbone of our energy resource portfolio, and
we honor Greg for his leadership and innovation as Chairman
and CEO of the world’s largest coal company,” stated Tom Peterson,
dean of the university’s College of Engineering. “He epitomizes
the leadership strength that comes from an educational background
and business experience that combines engineering and management.”
Boyce is a University of Arizona alumnus and has extensive management,
operating and engineering experience. His leadership activities
include serving as vice chairman of the World Coal Institute
and as a member of the Coal Industry Advisory Board of the International
Energy Agency.
MCCORMACK BARON SALAZAR AWARDED $60
MILLION ALLOCATION OF TAX CREDITS
Urban housing developer McCormack Baron Salazar has been awarded
a $60 million allocation of tax credits by the U.S. Treasury
Department through the 2007 New Markets Tax Credit program.
The program recognizes companies for their revitalization efforts
in low-income rural and urban areas across the country. Nearly
$300 million in tax credits went to Missouri organizations.
With the allocated tax credits, McCormack Baron Salazar plans
to invest in retail, commercial, educational and for-sale revitalization
projects in cities across the country, including St. Louis.
“Beyond safe, quality housing, our communities need investment
in retail and commercial activity, returning much needed jobs
and economic activity,” stated Jonathan Goldstein, senior vice
president at McCormack Baron Salazar. “This award allows us
to accelerate those developments.”
The company has a pipeline of development opportunities for
using the credits in states that include Missouri, California,
Louisiana, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
McCormack Baron Salazar’s mission is to rebuild urban neighborhoods
in central cities across the United States that have deteriorated
through decades of neglect and disinvestment.
BAILON NAMED EDITORIAL-PAGE EDITOR AT
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Gilbert Bailon, former editor and publisher of Al Dia
newspaper in Dallas, has joined the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
as the new editorial-page editor. He took over the position
in October from Christy Bertelson, who now serves as the newspaper’s
deputy managing editor for features.
“We are very fortunate to have a journalist of Gilbert’s caliber
leading our editorial page, building the newspaper’s longstanding
tradition of advocacy for our region,” said Post-Dispatch
Publisher Kevin Mowbray, according to a story announcing Bailon’s
arrival.
Before joining the Post-Dispatch, Bailon spent four years
at Al Dia, a daily Spanish-language newspaper that he
helped The Daily Morning News launch in 2003. He started at
The Dallas Morning News in 1986 as a reporter and ultimately
served as vice president and executive editor from 1998 to 2003.
He has also worked as a reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
the Los Angeles Daily News, The San Diego Union
and The Kansas City Star.
Bailon is president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors
and a former board member of the Maynard Institute for Journalism
Education.
FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR BESTOWS $10 MILLION
GIFT TO WEBSTER UNIVERSITY
Webster University announced that former U.S. Ambassador George
H. Walker III has bestowed upon the school a gift of $10 million,
which is the single largest donation in Webster’s 92-year history.
Walker has designated the gift to benefit the university’s School
of Business and Technology. News of the gift was delivered during
a celebration event held at Webster’s Community Music School.
“The thing that makes me most excited about Webster is its tremendous
and very exciting international outreach,” said Walker. “Having
served abroad in Hungary for three years I became increasingly
aware of how important it is for individuals to have part of
their life exposed to living in the culture of another country.
I don’t know of any institution that can offer that better than
Webster.”
Walker joined the university’s board of trustees in 1974 and
was elected board chairman in 1987, a position he held until
1992. He was named a life trustee of the university in 2003
and currently serves as chairman of the Advisory Board of Webster’s
School of Business and Technology.
MOMENTUM WORLDWIDE HOLDS GLOBAL MEETING
IN ST. LOUIS
Divisions of global marketing agency Momentum Worldwide converged
on St. Louis for three days recently, for the organization’s
Project Pangaea meeting. Momentum-St. Louis showcased St. Louis
as this year’s global meeting host.
Project Pangaea featured breakout sessions that ranged in nature
from cultural marketing and “phygital” promotions, to retail
marketing, and the Olympic Games. Chris Weil, CEO of Momentum
Worldwide, set the stage for the meeting with the company’s
strategic direction, “One World. One Agency.”
Among the branded meeting materials were an interactive e-mail
invite; wrapped busses that transported guests from the Ritz-Carlton
in Clayton to Momentum-St. Louis’ Richmond Heights office; live
blogging that broadcast content to Momentum Worldwide’s 2,100
employees; and a pre-programmed tech device for each attendee
that included the names, contact information and favorite music
of other attendees.
The event also featured presentations by managing directors
from London, Shanghai, Stockholm and St. Louis, along with group
outings to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and the Saint Louis Art
Museum.
CITY OFFICIALS HOST OPEN HOUSE FOR ST.
LOUIS CITY’S FIRST LEED PLATINUM CERTIFIED BUILDING
City of St. Louis officials hosted an open house and plaque
presentation on Oct. 17, 2007, for the William Kerr Foundation
building, the City’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) Certified Platinum building. Platinum is the highest
level of certification offered by the United States Green Building
Council.
Major Francis Slay attended the event along with John Sweet,
the building’s owner; Paul Henckler, CEO of Trumpet Builders;
Thomas Taylor, general manager of Vertegy; Brett Krug, principal
of Solutions AEC, and other members of the design and construction
team.
Located at 21 O’Fallon St., the William A. Kerr Family Foundation
is an eight-year-old family-run nonprofit that provides charitable
funding for various organizations, many of them in the environmental
arena. The Foundation called upon Trumpet, Vertegy and Solutions
AEC, who also worked with local architect TMA, to transform
a dilapidated 112-year-old, 5,200-square-foot building into
one of the greenest small buildings in the world.
Specific features of the building that helped garner the Platinum
certification include:
• Dual flush water closets and no potable water used for irrigation
• Low-flow showers and lavatories
• Active solar and wind-generated power that contributes to
nearly 25 percent of the building’s annual energy needs
• The use of recycled and reusable materials wherever possible,
including the countertops and floors
• The incorporation of skylights into the roof for natural light
and ventilation
• The utilization of an air distribution system located under
the floor, that provides ventilation and is more efficient for
the building
• A green roof terrace
• Daylight harvesting system that dims light fixtures when there
is adequate natural light contribution
NEW READING PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE BOOKS
TO URBAN YOUTH
Children in the city of St. Louis will be able to attend school
on Saturdays and take home a minimum of 30 books a year through
a new skill-building reading program called Succeeding With
Reading. Sponsored by ACCESS Academies, the program costs families
just $20 per year and offers some student scholarships.
The reading program was developed by Joshua Goldman, who now
directs Succeeding With Reading for ACCESS Academies. Goldman
designed the program to increase reading skills and create a
love for reading and writing in fourth- and fifth-grade students.
The reading program runs every Saturday during the school year
from Sept. 8, 2007, through May 24, 2008. About 40 students
currently participate at three NativityMiguel schools in the
City—St. Cecilia Academy, Loyola Academy and DeLaSalle Middle
School. Sessions are led by a teacher, a reading specialist
and a volunteer high school-age tutor in small groups of 13
students each.
ACCESS Academies is a not-for-profit organization that establishes
and funds middle schools in lower-income St. Louis neighborhoods.
LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE PRESENTS
THE 2007 WEIER AWARD TO CONOCOPHILLIPS
The Labor Management Committee Southwestern Illinois has presented
ConocoPhillips and the unions involved in its Wood River Refinery
with the 2007 Weier Award for their steadfast commitment to
fostering positive labor management relationships.
“The ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery works with multiple
building trades and contracting companies to support operations
at the refinery,” stated Rick Schwarz, maintenance and reliability
manager for ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery.
Specifically, the committee saluted the labor and management
representatives for forming a tripartite committee composed
of owners, contracting companies and the building trades and
for their ability to work together to improve safety, quality,
efficiency and cost-effectiveness. They were also recognized
for establishing a positive labor management climate that has
resulted in the refinery securing a seven-year agreement with
in-plant unions, which is more than double the traditional length
of time for such contracts.
GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY DISTRICT WINS
AWARD FOR DARDENNE GREENWAY AT BARATHAVEN
The Great Rivers Greenway District has received the Partnership
Award from the National Recreation and Park Association’s Great
Lakes Region. Presented at the association’s 2007 Congress &
Exposition in Indianapolis on Sept. 28, 2007, the award recognizes
the Great Rivers Greenway District’s leadership in developing
a new 85-acre park and trail along the Dardenne Greenway at
the BaratHaven community in St. Charles County.
The new park is the result of a public-private partnership between
the Great Rivers Greenway District, McEagle Properties LLC,
Barat Academy, Vantage Homes, Hayden Homes and the city of Dardenne
Prairie.
EPC IS CERTIFIED FOR ELECTRONIC DEMANUFACTURING
BY THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
EPC Inc., a professional electronics recycler and information
technology asset management firm, has been certified for hazardous
waste resource recovery by the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources. The company is now the first certified electronics
demanufacturer in the St. Louis area.
Electronics are the fastest-growing part of the world’s trash
problem with an estimated 50 million computers becoming obsolete
annually. Computers and their components contain many substances—including
cadmium, mercury, chromium, nickel, zinc and lead oxide—that
are considered harmful if released into the environment.
“Demanufacturing and legitimate recycling, utilizing an authorized
electronics recycler, is the only way to ensure compliance with
the more than 550 state and federal e-waste laws currently on
the books,” stated EPC Vice President Dave Beal.
EPC’s services include hard-drive data eradication, which allows
its customers to comply with data security laws; purchase of
surplus equipment that retains a fair market value; and legitimate
recycling of end-of-life technology. EPC maintains a zero-landfill
and no-overseas-dumping policy. Obsolete systems, monitors and
printers are stripped for parts and demanufactured by hand into
plastics and metals.
NEWGROUND AND ASCEND FEDERAL CREDIT
UNION WIN AWARD FOR BRANCH DESIGN
St. Louis-based NewGround, a design and implementation company
that serves financial institutions, and Ascend Federal Credit
Union were presented with the Credit Union National Association’s
Best Practice Award for Branch Design at the 10th Annual CUNA
OpSS Council Conference, held in Indiana Wells, Calif.
Ascend Federal Credit Union, a financial institution with 14
locations in Middle Tennessee, partnered with NewGround to transform
their brand, culture and retail experience. Branch designs were
judged on how they pushed the envelope and differentiated themselves.
In addition, judges critiqued the non-traditional elements employed
in a new or remodeled branch to enhance member growth.
Ascend, formerly known as AEDC FCU, was operating in a crowded
marketplace where financial institutions were delivering nearly
identical products and services. Ascend wanted a name that better
reflected its identity and was renamed Ascend Federal Credit
Union, reflecting the company’s aeronautical heritage.
