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Compiled by
Lauri Johnson
BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP OPENS STORE AT SAINT
LOUIS ZOO
Visitors at the Saint Louis Zoo can make their own zoo animal friends
to take home now that Build-A-Bear Workshop has opened a jungle-themed
store at the Zoo. The store offers eight animal-making stations,
and visitors can choose from 10 animals, including the Humboldt
penguin, tree frog, Asian elephant and ring-tailed lemur. It is
the first Build-A-Bear Workshop store located inside a zoo.
“At the heart of the Saint Louis Zoo experience is our ability to
connect visitors with animals, in the hope that we’ll create advocates
for wildlife,” stated Dr. Jeffrey P. Bonner, president and CEO of
the Saint Louis Zoo. “The Zoo is delighted to be able to offer this
Build-A-Bear experience to our visitors.”
FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE EXPANDS OPERATIONS
IN EARTH CITY
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company announced in February that it would
add 190 new jobs to its existing operations in Earth City, Mo. As
part of its expansion, the company has opened a new national customer
sales and service center to assist its network of independent agents.
The new jobs would include 145 positions for claims professionals.
With the increase in staff, Fireman’s Fund expected to employ nearly
370 people at its Earth City offices. The company planned to add
candidates with a range of skills, from entry-level and administrative
support personnel to claims adjusters for homeowners, auto liability
and commercial business insurance.
“We are pleased that Fireman’s Fund will continue to strengthen
its historic presence in the St. Louis area by creating high paying,
high quality jobs that will improve the quality of life for Missouri
workers and their families,” stated Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt.
RSM MCGLADREY NAMED WORKLIFE ADVOCATE
The Center for Ethical Business Cultures has named RSM McGladrey
a WorkLife Advocate for implementing programs and practices that
create a flexible and supportive workplace.
During the past year, RSM McGladrey introduced WorkLife goals as
part of its annual goal-setting process. In addition to business
goals, each employee is challenged to identify something personal
they want to accomplish, which could range from volunteering in
one’s community to getting involved in a hobby.
The awards program was initiated by a grant from The McKnight Foundation
and is managed by the Center for Ethical Business Cultures with
assistance from Work and Family Connection Inc.
RECORD NUMBERS OF EMPLOYERS JOIN RIDEFINDERS
RideFinders continues to experience record participation by employers
who want to offer ridesharing services and benefits to their employees.
In February 2006, the program recorded its highest-to-date monthly
total of new employers coming on board, which brought the total
number of participating employers to nearly 700 by March.
“Employers of virtually every industry and size are realizing that
participating in RideFinders is a free and easy way to drive their
employees to carpool or vanpool to work to reduce their commuting
costs and stress,” noted Joe Wright, marketing director for RideFinders
Joining RideFinders is free and requires minimal time and effort
on the part of the employer. Employers simply call RideFinders at
(800) VIP-RIDE to verbally join the program. RideFinders then provides
free posters and brochures to display at an employer’s work site
and hosts an on-site “Rideshare Fair” to discuss the program with
employees.
HOME BUILDERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DONATES
$18,000 TO YOUTH IN NEED
The Home Builders Charitable Foundation has donated $18,000 to Youth
In Need, an agency that serves children, youth and families throughout
eastern Missouri. The funds will be used to make repairs and improvements
at two Youth In Need locations. A portion of the money will help
refurbish a house used for the organization’s Transitional Living
Program, and the rest will be used to repair a porch and a patio
and to install a partial privacy fence at the Cornerstone facility.
The Home Builders Charitable Foundation is the charitable arm of
the Home Builders Association.
Home
Builders Charitable Foundation President Harold Burkemper
(left) and 2006 HBA President Ken Stricker
(right) presented a $18,000 donation to Youth
in Need President and CEO Jim Braun. |
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THE OUTSOURCE GROUP MERGES WITH MCS RECEIVABLES
MANAGEMENT
The Outsource Group has merged with Midwest Collection Services
Inc. of Florissant, Mo., effectively doubling its size and adding
capacity for future growth initiatives. The merged companies will
have offices in St. Louis, Florissant and Columbia, Mo.
“The merger focuses 130 employees in two call centers on the task
of accelerating cash flow for healthcare providers,” stated Michael
DiMarco, CEO of The Outsource Group. “Not only does this assist
physician practices and hospitals in the recovery of funds due them,
but [it] enables them to provide improved healthcare services to
their patients.”
The Outsource Group is an accounts receivable management company
that specializes in insurance resolution, bad debt collections and
other services for healthcare providers.
PARIC CORPORATION EARNS SAFETY AWARD IN
CONSTRUCTION
The Associated General Contractors of St. Louis has honored Paric
Corporation with the 2006 Excellence in Construction Safety Award.
The firm has logged more than one million work hours since its last
lost-time accident and reported no lost-time injuries in 2004 and
2005. Lost-time incidents are injuries or occupational illnesses
that result in time away from work.
Last year also marked the 10th consecutive year that the company’s
recordable and lost-time rates were better than the national average.
Recordable rates are standard performance measures that represent
safety incidents for each 200,000 hours of work.
INAUGURAL VISIONARY AWARD GOES TO MOMENTUM-ST.
LOUIS
Momentum-St. Louis has received the Diversity Awareness Partnership’s
first ever Visionary Award for creating initiatives that have increased
inclusion efforts in the St. Louis community. Momentum-St. Louis
has been responsible for the creative development of many Diversity
Awareness Partnership initiatives since the partnership’s inception
in November 2000.
“The creative contributions of Momentum-St. Louis have allowed us
to effectively reach young people and adults throughout the St.
Louis region with messages promoting the significance of diversity
and the need for understanding and communication,” stated Michael
Seppi, executive director of Diversity Awareness Partnership. He
also noted that the organization’s “innovative work” is “executed
in a way that is both positive and inviting, which can be essential
in approaching issues of diversity.”
The Diversity Awareness Partnership promotes the value of diversity
in the region through collaborative community and school-based education
and awareness efforts.
OVERFLOW CROWN AT CORTEX PROGRAM
The RCGA Breakfast with the Gazelles April 12 program featured Center
of Research, Technology and Entrepreneurial Expertise (CORTEX) Chairman
John Dubinsky, President & CEO of Westmoreland Associates LLC; and
President of Real Estate Development for CORTEX Lewis Levey, Chairman
of Enhanced Value Strategies Inc.
JOHN
DUBINSKY
president & CEO,
Westmoreland Associates LLC |
LEWIS
LEVEY
chairman,
Enhanced Value Strategies Inc. |
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The program, entitled, “CORTEX: St. Louis’ Life Sciences District”,
was held at Cortex Building 1, 4320 Forest Park Boulevard. CORTEX
is the 1,000-acre advanced technology research district immediately
west of downtown, and is a key piece of the puzzle for the St. Louis
region’s BioBelt strategy.
Breakfast with the Gazelles is co-sponsored by NPR-affiliate radio
station 90.7 KWMU-FM.
NORTH COUNTY IS BOOMING
By Jim Baer
A decade ago, commercial developers and real estate companies had
nearly thrown in the towel concerning North County economic development.
It was easy to throw bric-bats at North County then, because little,
if anything was occurring. Jurisdictional and territorial disputes
stood in the way of any significant progress and development was
scant.
Area business and government leaders didn’t take kindly to residential
and business flight to St. Charles or indifference to redevelopment.
Leaders fought back with startling results. Today, earth movers
are almost everywhere as projects are taking shape all over the
area. North County, home to 400,000 residents is bounded by Page
Avenue to the south and sandwiched between the Mississippi and Missouri
Rivers. The major school districts are comprised of Hazelwood, Ferguson-Florissant,
Riverview Gardens, Normandy and Pattonville.
Charlie
Dooley, County Executive,
St. Louis County |
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Construction planning and results in the North St. Louis County,
both in major municipalities like Florissant, Hazelwood, Maryland
Heights, Jennings, Normandy and the like and unincorporated areas
is unprecedented. More than $2.2 billion dollars worth of projects
have moved from the drawing board and are underway in an area that
frankly has become a boom town under the current administration
of County Executive Charlie Dooley.
Thomas
George, Chancellor,
University of Missouri-St. Louis |
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“North County is the ‘Crown Jewel’ of the region,” Dooley, from
Northwoods, said unabashedly. “This is a great place to work and
to live. North County is the core of my existence (having lived
there his entire adult life) he’s become the No. 1 cheerleader and
said emphatically: “whatever North County wants, they will get,”
with the pride of a winning politician.
March 30, hundreds of business and governmental leaders gathered
at Northwest Christian Hospital Dedrick Building to honor developers
and leaders who have made significant contributions to the region.
The event was hosted by North County Incorporated (NCI), a non-profit
agency with the sole purpose of connecting people, ideas and resources
for the betterment of all its citizens.
Here’s what’s happening in North County
through 2010:
• Express Scripts will relocate its
headquarters to the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus with
a $50 million investment on 17 acres, representing the first Fortune
500 company to build on a college campus in U.S. history with a
target completion date, Spring 2007.
• The North Park Development, a 600-acre
business community offering mix of urban accessibility and suburban
amenities, a project of North County, the Lambert International
Airport noise abatement project and the City of St. Louis and will
be developed by Clayco Realty Group, McEagle Development and TriStar
Business Communities.
• Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard,
a $38 million dollar regional shopping center at the old Northlands
site in Jennings by the Sansone Group with Schnuck’s and Target
as anchors
• River Roads Redevelopment, mixed use
80,000-square-foot neighborhood redevelopment including a new Jennings
City Hall by Pyramid Construction Co.
• More than $184 million investment
in transportation infrastructure in the region
• 3,200 new homes planned and under
construction already in North County
• MoDot’s commitment to $134 million
dollars in North County road construction improvements
• St. Louis County is planning to spend
$49 million dollars in the area, mostly on bridge construction
Robert Lowery, mayor of Florissant is in on the action. “We have
opened 841 new businesses the past four years and 150 more on are
the drawing board. We renovated our civic center and added a new
marina to Sunset Park. We are one of the most overlooked areas of
St. Louis County. Frankly, we are a goldmine,” said Florissant’s
mayor.
UM-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas George was in agreement. “North County
is just doing spectacularly. We are the next vanguard of advancement.
Our project with Express Scripts represents a whole new partnership
in cross fertilization. These business people are absolutely showing
great leadership,” he said.
Many of the 12,000 UM-St. Louis undergraduates plan on taking advantage
of the Express Scripts headquarters development through research
projects and high quality internships.
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Dick
Shepard, UMSL Project Director—University Place
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Dick Shepard, UMSL Project Director-University Place and former
CEO at Lin-Clay Construction Co. for 21 years said this project
was long in planning. At first, Express Scripts proposed a call
center and the university turned down the project. “We wanted good
paying jobs. We wanted a partnership with academics and research
and this is a whole new pioneering effort,” he reports.
Construction is a joint project of Paric and Clayco Construction
Companies. Trip Hardin and Peter Krombach of Trammel-Crow Co. brokered
the deal for UM-St. Louis and Express Scripts.
North County’s Economic Development Chair Dr. Mark Tranel, Director
of UM-St. Louis’ Public Policy Research Center says the popularity
of North County continues its upward growth.
Several area developers were honored at the ceremony for making
significant investments in North County. Recognized firms were the
Sansone Group for the $39 million dollar Buzz Westfall Plaza (previous
site of Northland Shopping Center), and Express Scripts Headquarter
development partnership, Clayco Realty Group, McEagle Development,
and UM-St. Louis for the new $50 million Express Scripts Headquarters
building.
Bob Lindsey, Editor-Publisher of the Independent News of
Florissant Valley and a long-time observer of North County progress
is pleasantly surprised by all of the feverish activity.
“The growth in new business and residential development has been
outstanding and a most pleasant surprise. Ten years ago, you would
have thought we were not going to have any more growth. Now, I see
homes going up all the time, priced $200,000 to a half-million and
empty ground is really at a premium.”
No one, including Lindsey, Dooley, Lowery or the educators at UM-St.
Louis is complaining these days about the lack of economic growth
in North County.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, VH1 DONATE MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS TO ST. LOUIS SCHOOLS
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Celebrating
with Nance music students are Jim Renken, vice president/general
manager, Charter Communications; Ken Franklin, deputy
legislative director, City of St. Louis; Laurie Schopp,
director of programs & policy, VH1 Save The Music
Foundation; Dr. Creg Williams, superintendent, SLPS;
Ald. Dionne Flowers, 2nd Ward, St. Louis; and Darnetta
Clinkscale, former-president, SLPS Board of Education.
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Charter Communications and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation have
provided $50,000 worth of new musical instruments to restore music
education programs in two St. Louis public schools. The donations
to Nance Elementary and Hodgen Elementary schools are part of the
foundation’s efforts to restore $4 million worth of instrumental
music programs nationwide during the 2005-06 school year. Since
1999, Charter Communications and VH1 Save the Music have provided
$250,000 worth of new musical instruments to 10 schools.
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION INITIATIVE RELOCATES
TO MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
The Missouri Botanical Garden is now home to the Butterfly Conservation
Initiative, a coalition of more than 60 American Zoo and Aquarium
Association-accredited zoos and aquariums, universities, government
agencies and nonprofit organizations. Previously the organization’s
offices were located in Silver Spring, Md.
Entering its fifth year of dedicated work on behalf of North American
butterfly populations, the organization wants to expand its presence
among botanical gardens and arboreta. The Missouri Botanical Garden
is the parent facility of the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, a
member of the Butterfly Conservation Initiative that features a
year-round butterfly exhibit and insectarium.
“Having the BFCI located at the Missouri Botanical Garden is a natural
fit, given the co-dependency of butterflies and plants within a
healthy ecosystem,” stated Joe Norton, directory of the Butterfly
House. “We are excited to bring the BFCI to our facilities, and
know that the initiative will complement both the Butterfly House
and the Garden in reaching conservation objectives.”
The Butterfly Conservation Initiative was formed in 2001 by the
American Zoo and Aquarium Association and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service in response to an alarming decline in butterfly populations.
MIDWEST HEALTHCARE STARTUPS ATTRACT $550
MILLION IN INVESTMENTS IN 2005
Midwest healthcare startups reported $550 million in investments
in 2005, according to a report released by BioEnterprise, a Cleveland-based
business formation, recruitment and acceleration effort that supports
the growth of bioscience companies.
“2005 was a good year for the Midwest,” stated Baiju Shah, president
of BioEnterprise. “Of particular note, national healthcare investment
firms joined with Midwest-based venture funds to finance a number
of regional companies.”
The Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report compiles venture
investments made in 10 Midwestern states and Western Pennsylvania.
Based on reported financings, Minnesota, Ohio and Missouri are top-ranked
in the Midwest with respective totals of $151 million, $86 million
and $80 million invested. Those states are followed by Michigan
($53 million), Wisconsin ($39 million), Illinois ($39 million),
Indiana ($23 million) and Kentucky ($19 million).
A BioEnterprise survey of national healthcare investors conducted
last year rated the Minneapolis, Cleveland, St. Louis and Pittsburgh
regions as having the richest pools of opportunity in the Midwest.
COMMERCE MAGAZINE GARNERS INTERNATIONAL
AWARD
The 2006 Who’s Who, What’s What In St. Louis January 2006 issue
of St. Louis Commerce Magazine won a Silver Award in Custom
Publications from the international Astrid Awards Competition.
This New York-based international awards competition recognizes
excellence in design as a fundamental element of communications.
The Astrid Awards Competition received entries from nations around
the world.
Commerce Magazine is designed by Stan Gellman Graphic Design
Inc.
HINDERLITER LAUNCHES NEW RADIO SHOW ON LEADERSHIP
In February, Mark Hinderliter, president of The AbeL Group LLC,
launched a new radio show on WGNU-AM 920 called “Lessons in Leadership.”
Each week, Hinderliter interviews guests in high-level leadership
positions in business, healthcare, government, education and the
community. They discuss current topics in leadership to educate
listeners about the practical applications of leadership.
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Mark
Hinderliter of the Abel Group LLC launched a new radio
show on WGNU-AM 920. |
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The show airs every Monday night from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and
listeners can also catch it online at www.wgnu.net. Hinderliter’s
AbeL Group works with clients to develop emerging leaders through
coaching and custom leadership development programs.
JOYCE/JOHNSON NAMED MISSOURI'S SMALL BUSINESS
PERSONS OF THE YEAR
Suzanne Magee Joyce, president and CEO and Andrea Johnson chief
operating officer of TechGuard Security have been named the Small
Business Persons of the Year for Missouri by the U.S. Small Business
Administration.
(left):
Suzanne Magee Joyce
president & CEO, TechGuard Security
Andrea Johnson
COO, TechGuard Security |
|
Joyce is among winners selected from the 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam who will be eligible to win the
National Small Business Person of the Year title.
The mission of TechGuard Security is to create proactive countermeasures
to malicious network attacks through deployment of a neutral net
firewall using TechGuard’s now patented artificial intelligence
technology in conjunction with industry leading services.
Other local winners include Financial Services Champion Robert Calcaterra,
CEO and president Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise; Home-Based
Business Champion Angela Lieb, president Xpress Office Center; Minority
Small Business Champion Brian Montgomery, minority business development
executive Ameren; Small Business Exporter John Zisser Jr., president
Zisser Tire Company; SBA Young Entrepreneur Margaret Laughlin Honerkamp,
Laughlin Promotions; Small Business Journalist Shera Dalin, co-owner
CarisMedia Inc.; Women in Business Champion Maryanne Preston, president
Hiring Solutions; and Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Small Business
John Tipton, president Da-Com Corporation.
MARCH OF DIMES AWARDS GRANT FOR PRENATAL
EDUCATION
The March of Dimes Greater Missouri Chapter has awarded a $10,000
grant to Parents as Teachers National Center to support its Parent
Education Prevention and Support Program. The program targets underserved
maternal and child health needs in Missouri by providing one-on-one
prenatal education about the dangers of smoking, alcohol and drug
use and exposure to hazardous substances and chemicals during pregnancy.
The grant is one of many that the March of Dimes awards in an attempt
to prevent birth defects and infant mortality.
“We are grateful that the March of Dimes has provided additional
funding so we can expand this important prevention program,” noted
Susan Stepleton, president and CEO of Parents as Teachers National
Center. “We are also grateful to volunteers who support the March
of Dimes by participating in events like WalkAmerica and who donate
in other ways. Such participation and donations make these grants
possible.”
JANE JACOBS: URBAN VISIONARY 1916-2006
Legendary author and renowned urban planner Jane Jacobs died on
Tuesday, April 25 in Toronto at the age of 89. A native of Scranton,
Pa., she and her late husband, noted American architect Robert Jacobs,
had lived and worked in Toronto since the late 1960s.
Jane provided 60 years of perspectives as an urban planner and thought
leader on cities.
Her books include the pioneering work, “The Death and Life of Great
American Cities”; “Cities and the Wealth of Nations: Principles
of Economic Life”; and “The Nature of Economies.”
Colleagues at Project for Public Spaces in New York observed: “Anyone
who ever met Jane Jacobs or read her books couldn’t help but be
infected with her enthusiasm. She loved cities and celebrated the
life that teems within them.”
“She articulated better than anyone how the best ideas about making
cities great come not from theories or master plans, but from careful
observation of what goes on around us. This was a startling, radical
idea when she first proposed it in the 1950s and 1960s, and it changed
the way North Americans think about cities.”
Her work helped shape the work of developers and city visionaries,
such as the late James W. Rouse, the late author and city-shaper
William H. Whyte, and St. Louis’ own Richard Baron.
AMERISTAR ST. CHARLES REWARDS TEAM MEMBERS
WITH BIG PRIZE
Employees at Ameristar Casino St. Charles have found out that being
a team player can really pay off. As part of an annual team member
recognition program, Ameristar awarded a new car, an all-expense-paid
vacation and cash prizes to four employees who exemplify the best
of the best.
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As
part of an annual team member recognition program,
Ameristar awarded a new car, an all-expense-paid vacation
and cash prizes to four employees who exemplify the
best of the best. |
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Becky Heimgartner received a new Chrysler 300M with all taxes and
fees paid by Ameristar for being chosen Team Member of the Year.
Cecelia Landgraf and Ken Knobbe were finalists for the Team Member
of the Year award and each received $5,000 in cash. Tim Busalacki
was chosen as Team Leader of the Year and received an all-expense-paid
trip to a destination of his choice along with a week of paid time
off.
Leading up to the annual awards, Ameristar also offered a monthly
recognition program that awarded $250 each to three Team Member
of the Month award recipients. Team members are nominated for exhibiting
excellence in job performance, displaying unsurpassed guest service
or going the extra mile in contributing to the team. |
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