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COMMERCE IN BRIEF
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Unique
Insectarium Showcases World of Invertebrates
Above:
Now
you don't see them, now do you? Scattered throughout this rainforest
at the Saint Louis Zoo's Insectarium are "hidden" animals daring
you to find them. These children have discovered a Malaysian walking
stick.
As one of
a handful of exhibits in North America dedicated solely to the
most predominant group of animals on Earth, the new Monsanto Insectarium
at the Saint Louis Zoo offers a dramatic, intriguing view of the
vast world of invertebrates.
The
9,000-square-foot, $4 million Insectarium opened in May and
offers an array of interactive displays, including more than
100 species of live insects. The interactive exhibits entertain
and educate visitors about how these underrated creatures recycle
waste, pollinate plants and support the entire cycle of life.
Through 20 major exhibit areas, visitors learn hands-on about
invertebrates' incredible engineering skills, their indispensable
role in our ecosystem and their distinctive ways of communicating
with one another.
"What
better way to help our visitors understand this immense and
essential group of creatures," says Charles H. Hoessle, director
of the Saint Louis Zoo. "Finally, with the Monsanto Insectarium,
we are giving equal status to the great diversity of invertebrates
that share this planet with us."
An eight-foot-long
realistic steel sculpture of a centaurus beetle greets visitors
to the Insectarium, located between the Emerson Electric Children's
Zoo and River's Edge. Other highlights include a geodesic
dome flight cage filled with colorful flowers and flying insects;
a research window with two-way microphone, where visitors
can watch and talk to entomologists at work; and a life-size
exhibit of a typical American home and the housemates who
share everyday life with us.
The
architect for the Insectarium is David Mason & Associates;
The Mash Group is the exhibit designer. A $3,000,000 gift from
the Monsanto Fund and gifts of $250,000 from Interco Charitable
Trust and Andrea and Steven F. Schankman helped make the project
possible.
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Unity
Health To Open Surgery Center in O'Fallon
Unity Health
is building a three-unit outpatient surgery center as part of
a 48,000-square-foot project located in O'Fallon, Mo. The $4.3
million project, at
Winding Woods Drive and Highway K, includes three operating rooms,
a minor procedure room, appropriate support space and additional
space for future expansion.
The
surgery center, which is scheduled for completion in July, will
offer same-day surgery procedures that do not require an overnight
stay or acute-care hospitalization. The surgery specialties
include general surgery; orthopedic; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology;
gynecology; urology and ophthalmology.
"St.
Charles County is one of the fastest growing areas in the Midwest,
and we've seen an increasing number of patients coming to Unity
facilities from St. Charles County," says Richard Slack, vice
president of planning and marketing for Unity Health. In addition
to the rapidly growing population base, advances in technology
create the ability to perform surgery in an outpatient setting
more often each year. By one estimate, as much as 80 percent of
all surgery could be performed in ambulatory facilities within
three years."
Rohn
Industries Acquires Marketing Products Group
Above: David
LaRusso
DVL Enterprises,
Inc., controlled by David V. LaRusso, has acquired the assets
and trade name of Marketing Products Group (MPG), Inc., a marketing
services organization providing a full range of promotion merchandising
services for corporate clients.
Erv
Pesek, Jr., an industry veteran, founded MPG in 1998. He remains
with the company as a consultant, serving as senior vice president
and focusing on new business development and sales.
LaRusso,
45, most recently served as chief financial officer for Rohn
Industries, based in Peoria, Ill. Prior to that, he served as
president and chief executive officer of Allied Healthcare Products,
Inc.
Based
in St. Louis with a regional sales office in Long Beach, Calif.,
MPG creates, administers and fulfills sales promotion, corporate
identity and incentive programs.
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Innovative
Venture Capital Program Attracts Investment in Missouri Start-Ups
The Certified
Capital Company (CAPCO) program has created jobs and significantly
increased economic development in the state of Missouri, according
to a report released by the University of Texas. Since its adoption
in 1997, the report concluded that the CAPCO program has created
more than 1,600 jobs and attracted $540 million of investment
for early-stage companies.
The Missouri
CAPCO program assists small businesses with access to long-term
equity by inducing investment in venture capital funds. Insurance
companies investing in CAPCOs are afforded tax credits, pro-rated
over 10 years, against their premium tax liabilities.
"Missouri
business owners are starting to get the help they desperately
need," says Representative May Scheve, a co-sponsor of the
1996 legislation. "Our state is positioned to become a focal
point for entrepreneurial activity and the CAPCO program is
providing the critical resource of capital necessary for high-growth
companies."
The
CAPCO program has raised $100 million since 1997, with an
additional $40 million specifically targeted to "distressed"
communities. For example, CAPCO has directed $25 million of
venture capital investments to Missouri agricultural businesses.
"The
entrepreneurs in Missouri have extraordinary business ideas
and the talent to make them happen," adds David Bergmann, co-founder
of Advantage Capital and a participant in the CAPCO program.
"Layoffs and downsizing at some of Missouri's traditionally
largest employers have injected talented and motivated people
into the entrepreneurial community. The last piece necessary
to keep them in the state and make them successful is the availability
of capital."
CPG's
San Antonio Office To Headquarter Live Entertainment Show Production
Creative
Producers Group (CPG) opened CPG San Antonio, adding to its
growing regional offices in Indianapolis and Dallas. CPG San
Antonio will provide all of CPG's business communications services
and will headquarter the newest entertainment division, CPGLive,
which focuses on live entertainment show production.
Senior
partners Andy Barkley and Ken Groneck, who have both produced
a variety of shows for leisure and entertainment industries such
as Motown Café, Six Flags Theme Parks, Warner Brothers
Studios and Legoland, will lead the San Antonio office.
Distinguished
Panel of World Agricultural Leaders Plan
2001
World Congress
Under the
leadership of former U.S. Senator John C. Danforth, leaders
in the field of global agriculture recently gathered in St.
Louis for a two-day visioning session. While here, the World
Agricultural Forum Advisory Board identified and defined the
issues to be included in the organization's 2001 World Congress,
scheduled next May in St. Louis.
"The
1999 World Congress was a great success, as it brought together
more than 300 world leaders of agriculture, including scientists,
policy-makers and representatives from non-government organizations
and the private sector, to identify and discuss the constraints
and opportunities facing world agriculture," Danforth explains.
"The 2001 World Congress event will continue to focus global attention
on St. Louis as the center of world agriculture."
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WorkNet Communications
Wins "Most Informative Web Site" Award
WorkNet Communications,
a facilities-based, state-of-the-art fixed wireless telecommunications
carrier, received first place for the most informative web site
and third place for the best business-to-business site. At the St.
Louis E-business Awards program, 52 web sites from large, small
and non-profit businesses were nominated.
"WorkNet's
goal while developing our web site was to keep it clean and neat.
The compelling presentation makes the technical information, specs
and pricing easily accessible," says Tim Kiely, marketing manager
for WorkNet, which provides small- and medium-sized businesses with
low-cost, high-speed data communications, Internet access, long
distance and local phone service "We wanted to attract visitors
to come back for a second and third look."
The site
has boosted WorkNet's monthly visits from 148,000 last October to
293,000 in January. WorkNet's expansion beyond St. Louis is another
reason for the growing numbers. The company currently has offices
in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus, Nashville, Kansas City, Dallas
and Cleveland.
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Webster
University Receives $2.4 Million Gift to Establish Teaching Institute
Left
to right:
Webster University professor Brenda Fyfe, Beatrice Kornblum
and former Webster University president, Jacqueline Grennan
Wexler. Kornblum donated $2.4 million to Webster University.
Webster
University has received a $2.4 million gift, plus annual gifts
throughout her lifetime, from Beatrice Kornblum, a 93-year-old
retired school teacher who wants to leave a legacy that will
impact students of future generations.
Kornblum
has designated the gift--the largest in the University's history--to
establish the Beatrice and David Kornblum Institute for Teaching
Excellence, in the School of Education. The multifaceted Institute
will focus on teacher education and school reform, especially
in the St. Louis public schools.
Webster
University Professor Brenda Fyfe, an early childhood expert
who has been at the University since 1982, will be the Institute's
first director. She has worked with Kornblum during the past
two years to define and shape the Institute, which emphasizes
the urban experience in the city schools.
The
cornerstone of the new Institute will be the Kornblum Scholars--highly
successful school professionals, most likely practicing teachers,
who will be supported with scholarships while they pursue their
master's degrees in teaching. The Kornblum Scholars will connect
their studies to the schools they teach through research and
documentation of a significant problem they face on the job.
Other
aspects of the Institute include arts in education, services to
immigrant and minority children and their families, inclusion
for children with disabilities, action research and national dissemination
of documents and resources for teachers and professional development.
SLU
Furthers Commitment to Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses
Above:
Ramona Dickens, program director of under-represented
businesses
In an effort
to enhance its promotion of minority and woman-owned businesses,
Saint Louis University has appointed Ramona Dickens to the newly
created position of program director of under-represented businesses.
The
program will create a focus for University use of minority-
and woman-owned businesses. A former manager of supplier diversity
for Southwestern Bell, Dickens hopes to raise awareness in the
University community of available minority- and woman-owned
vendors so that those responsible for purchasing decisions are
aware of all the options.
"The
University sits in the heart of the city, and there is a broad
spectrum of diversity within its radius," says Dickens, who
graduated from Tarkio College with a degree in business management
and personnel administration. "Not only is reaching out to minority-
and woman-owned businesses good community business, it is also
good economic business for the University."
Insignia/ESG
Receives Award For Management/Leasing
of
Gateway One on the Mall
The St.
Louis office of commercial real estate services firm Insignia/ESG
has been awarded a "100 percent Property Management Satisfaction
Score" from Gateway One on the Mall tenants.
Tenants
of the 15-story, 401,625-square-foot, class A office building
at 701 Market Street responded to a survey conducted by property
owners General Electric Investment Corporation (GEIC). In
1999, only two other properties in GEIC's office portfolio
of eight million square feet attained this level of excellence.
The
office building, built in 1986, is home to approximately 40
tenants, including Peabody Holding Co., Anheuser-Busch and
Northwestern Mutual.
Environmental
Operations Inc. Forms Mining Services Division
Environmental
Operations, Inc. (EOI) has formed a new division to provide
mine reclamation and asset recovery services to mine owners
and operators across the United States.
"Mine
closures--especially in Appalachia and the Midwest--continue
to escalate," says Stacy Hastie, EOI president and chief
operating officer. "Our new entity is geared to help coal
and mineral producers mitigate the financial hardships and
long-term liabilities that accompany the closing of a mine
facility."
Heading
the St. Louis-based company's new entity are Robert N. Hemmer,
managing director; Edward P. Ballog, general manager of
operations; and Warren A. Peterson, P.E., manager of engineering.
Collectively, they possess nearly 60 years of reclamation
and remediation experience at more than 800 sites spanning
15,000 acres.
EMC
Announces New Companies, Positions
Environmental
Management Corpora-tion (EMC), the largest contract operator
of water and wastewater facilities in the Midwest, has created
six new corporate entities under the original EMC flag.
"We
are re-focusing our resources and attention to fashion a real
Indiana company, a real Illinois company--and not just a St.
Louis company that does business in Indiana or Illinois,"
explains Mike
McKee,
president and chief operating officer of EMC.
EMC's
Residuals Company continues to operate under the direction
of Bill Niehoff, as senior vice president; Jack Danks,
as vice president of EMC of Indiana; Christopher McKee,
as vice president of EMC's Commercial and Industrial Services;
Jim Collard, as general manager of EMC of Missouri; Kendall
Coleman, as general manager of EMC of Southern Illinois;
and Joe Miller, as general manager of EMC of Northern
Illinois.
EMC
currently provides operations, maintenance and management
services to more than 40 municipal and industrial clients.
Post-Dispatch
Publisher Discusses New Economy Challenges at Commerce
Breakfast
Above:
Terrance C.Z Egger (center)
publisher of the St.
Louis Post-Dispatch
recently spoke at Commerce Bank's annual breakfast
meeting. On hand were (left),
Gregg E. Hollabaugh, Commerce Bank senior vice president
and David Kemper (right),
Commerce Bank chairman and CEO.
The
overabundance of choices created by the Internet-age
is overwhelming many consumers, according to Terrance
C.Z. Egger, publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
And smart local businesses will have to step in and
help make order out of the chaos for their customers,
says Egger, who was named publisher of the Post-Dispatch
in July 1999 after serving as general manager since
1996.
At
a recent Commerce Bank annual breakfast meeting, Egger
peppered his analysis of the Post-Dispatch's
Internet strategies with some advice to local business
owners.
"The
arrival of the Internet may have eliminated geographic
boundaries for doing business," Egger says, "but the
world still largely operates at the local level."
"People
want to do business with companies they trust. And
trust is going to matter more as time goes on," he
continues. "A brand or company that is respected in
the St. Louis community gives local consumers the
same comfort level in the on-line community. You also
need a viable on-line presence that has value for
customers and is flexible enough to evolve and adapt
to the ongoing changes in the marketplace."
Earthgrains
Acquisition of Metz Baking Co. Drives Profitable
Growth
With
the purchase of Metz Baking Co. for $625 million,
the Earthgrains Company has added profitable brands
and territory in the upper Midwest. Earthgrains
continues to be the market-share leader in its overall
fresh-bakery territory and now serves 50 percent
of the U.S. population.
In
connection with the acquisition, Earthgrains has
divested two brands in a small overlapping area
that represent less than $10 million in annual bread
sales. With 64 bakeries after the acquisition, Earthgrains
has become the nation's second largest bread and
baked good producer, adding major new markets and
gaining strength in other existing markets.
Metz,
which was a subsidiary of Specialty Foods Corp.
of Deerfield, Ill., had pro forma sales of nearly
$600 million in calendar 1999. Earthgrains, which
operates fresh-bakery and refrigerated-dough business
in the United States and Europe, had sales of more
than $1.9 billion in fiscal year 1999.
"Earthgrains
has created one of the best growth foundations in
the industry that will enable us to continue driving
consistent superior earnings and to create additional
opportunities to enhance shareholder value," says
Earthgrains Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Barry H. Beracha. "With Metz, we will achieve benefits
through enhanced efficiencies and productivity,
as well as product-mix improvements and information-technology
expertise. We also will be able to better serve
national and super-regional customers by adding
significant contiguous territory."
St.
Louis' First Labor Gallery Features Works of Nationally
Recognized Artists
Above:
"Coffee Break" is one of the many paintings
exhibited at the Missouri Labor Art Gallery.
Kathleen Farrell, the artist, painted this
acrylic on canvas in 1983 and lives and works
in Joliet, Ill. She is nationally known as
a "community muralist" producing
murals depicting the American labor movement
and the lives
of working people.
The
Missouri Labor Art Gallery, which opened in March
to educate people about the history of the labor
movement from the early 1900s, is the first of
its kind in Missouri and St. Louis.
Located
at the offices of the St. Louis Labor Council,
1401 Hampton Avenue, the art gallery allows visitors
to experience--through dramatic art, posters,
photographs, original oils, acrylics, watercolors,
prints and drawings--the crucial social issues
that have impacted workers' lives. Among the artists
represented in the 60 pieces on display include
Ben Shahn, a prominent social realist of the 1930s
and 1940s; Hugo Gellert, a print maker and artist
in the 1930s; Ralph Fasanella, a former union
organizer and prominent poster artist; Jessie
Beard Rickly, a famous member of the St. Genevieve,
Mo., artist colony in the 1930s; Earl Dotter,
one of America's prominent contemporary photojournalists;
Lewis Rubenstein, the retired chairman of the
Vassar Art Department who traveled America's coal
mines and industrial sites; and Barbara Savan,
a St. Louis contemporary artist whose depictions
of working Americans will be shown this fall at
the George Meany Labor Center in Washington.
French
Gerleman Earns Prestigious Sales Award From Networking
Giant Cisco Systems
Applied
Information Systems (AIS), a division of St.
Louis-based French Gerleman, received a prestigious
award from Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader
in networking for the Internet.
AIS
was selected from hundreds of value-added resellers
in the northwest region of the United States
to receive the Most Improved Year-Over-Year
Performance award. As a Premier Certified Partner
for Cisco Systems, AIS increased its sales of
Cisco Systems products by more than eight-fold
in one year, growth greater than any other reseller
in a 13-state region.
"The
AIS team and its focus on Cisco led the company
to the highest year-over-year growth in a territory
that encompasses 13 states and hundreds of resellers,"
says Kerry McDonough, Cisco regional channel
manager. "We thank them for a prosperous fiscal
year 1999 and an even more spectacular growth
plan for 2000."
French
Gerleman is a St. Louis-based technology solution
provider, supplying profit boosting electrical
and automation products and services to industrial,
commercial and construction markets since 1923.
The AIS division, established in 1998, focuses
on network infrastructure development and provides
any level of service needed, from materials
only to total turnkey solutions.
Coldwell
Banker Expands Commercial Presence With Acquisition
of Wolken Real Estate
Coldwell
Banker Commercial American Spectrum has acquired
Clayton-based Wolken Real Estate Advisors,
Inc., establishing an expanded commercial
real estate brokerage presence in the St.
Louis metropolitan region.
Founded
in 1988, Wolken Real Estate Advisors, Inc.
specializes in tenant/buyer representation
for commercial, industrial investment real
estate clients. Michael J. Wolken, president
of Wolken Real Estate Advisors, Inc. and
past president of the Society of Industrial
and Office Realtors, will head the expanded
brokerage group. The recorded transaction
volume for the combined operation of both
firms in 1999 was more than $200 million.
"We
are delighted to be part of Coldwell Banker
Commercial American Spectrum," says Michael
Wolken, a 20-plus-year industry veteran.
"Our corporate clients live and work in
a highly competitive and fast-moving environment.
Our affiliation with the nation's premiere
commercial real estate brokerage company
provides us with the depth of research,
resources and information to operate more
effectively in what has become a global
marketplace for all of us."
Kmart
Family Foundation Funds Drug Prevention
Sports Program at Wyman Center
In
an ongoing effort to educate, prevent
and fight national drug abuse among youth,
the Kmart Family Foundation gave a $3,000
grant to the Wyman Center to support the
Adventures Challenge Sports Program. The
alternative non-competitive drug prevention
sports program serves more than 3,200
youths at the Kiwanis Camp Wyman, in Eureka,
and Lions Den Outdoor Learning Center,
in Imperial, Mo.
The
2000 Adventures Challenge program challenges
children ages 8 to 16 with rock climbing,
caving, orienteering, team building, river
canoeing, rafting trips and wilderness
backpacking. Wyman Center helps children
and youth develop character, values, skills
and knowledge they need to reach their
full potential through social, recreational
and educational opportunities for them
and their families.
In
1999, the Kmart Family Foundation contributed
more than $12 million in funds and merchandise
to charities nationwide.
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