Compiled
by Lauri Johnson
C.K. "CHIP" CASTEEL JOINS
ST. LOUIS RCGA AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC POLICY
C.K.
“Chip” Casteel
senior vice president for public policy, RCGA
|
|
C.K. “Chip” Casteel has been recruited to the St. Louis Regional
Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) as its new Senior Vice
President for Public Policy. Casteel brings a distinguished
public and private sector career in public policy and governmental
affairs to the RCGA, having previously served as legal and legislative
counsel to then-Missouri Gov. Kit Bond. Subsequently, Casteel
had a 17-year-career in senior legislative, regulatory and governmental
affairs positions for MCI Communications Corp., both in St.
Louis and in Washington, D.C., including heading state public
policy and government affairs nationally for MCI.
For the past four years, as Senior Vice President for Supply
Chain Management at Express Scripts Inc. here in St. Louis,
Casteel led a group of some 100 professionals in managing Express
Scripts’ overall business relationships with its primary suppliers.
In his new position, Casteel will manage and guide legislative
relations in both Missouri and Illinois, as well as in Washington,
D.C., on behalf of the St. Louis region’s business community.
In addition, he will manage the Forward Metro St. Louis effort,
a centerpiece RCGA strategic initiative which has been strongly
embraced by the RCGA Board of Directors, Civic Progress, the
Regional Business Council, St. Charles County Partners in Progress,
and the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois; and will manage
and guide the RCGA Public Policy Council, crafting the business
community’s yearly and continuing agenda of legislative priorities.
Likewise, Casteel will manage the business community’s role
in environmental management, infrastructure and regional planning
with our public sector partners in Missouri, Illinois and Washington,
D.C.
Among Casteel’s public sector accomplishments have been working
with the Governor of Missouri to balance the State Budget during
severe economic downturns in the 1980s, achieving adoption of
a major statewide economic development program, and helping
to establish the nation’s most comprehensive and successful
early childhood education program, Parents As Teachers, for
which he currently serves on the national board.
His recent private sector experience included being part of
the management team at Express Scripts that undertook the most
significant managed intervention market share shift in the history
of the industry.
“Chip brings to this position a strong professional background
in successful regional and statewide public policy development
and implementation,” noted RCGA President and CEO Richard C.D.
Fleming. “His career accomplishments and high integrity have
earned him the respect of both business and governmental leaders
throughout the region,” Fleming added.
Casteel’s recruitment was the product of an extensive, two-month
local and national search. This search produced a slate of exceptional
candidates, ultimately narrowed to three individuals. “Chip
emerged as the clear #1 choice. We are looking forward to having
him on board,” Fleming added.
Casteel received his undergraduate degree in Public Administration
from the University of Missouri at Columbia, and his Juris Doctor
degree from the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia.
He succeeds Tom Irwin, who was recently named Executive Director
of Civic Progress.
For more information on the St. Louis RCGA Public Policy division,
please visit http://www.gotostlouis.org./x717.xml
ST. LOUIS FOR KIDS RECEIVES FINANCIAL
BOOST FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
St. Louis for Kids has been awarded $21,000 in grants for its
After-school Quality Initiative, a program that addresses the
need for quality after-school programs in low-income neighborhoods.
The Boeing Foundation and the Joseph H. and Florence A. Roblee
Foundation both contributed to the funds. The After school Quality
Initiative is designed to provide the training and technical
support that individual after-school programs in low-income
neighborhoods need to work more effectively with children.
BOON ATTENDS MISSOURI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL’S FALL CONFERENCE
Nadine Boon, director of economic development for the city of
St. Charles, attended the Missouri Economic Development Council’s
2006 Fall Conference at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention
Center in Springfield, Mo. She joined more than 125 of Missouri’s
professional economic developers and others interested in promoting
the expansion of business and industry in Missouri. Education
sessions at the conference covered entrepreneurship as an economic
strategy, a biodiesel presentation, Web site development, legislative
updates, marketing plan development and other topics. The council
is a statewide, nonprofit association of 400+ economic developers
and community leaders.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PARTNERS WITH THRIVENT
FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS TO BUILD MORE HOMES IN ST. LOUIS AREA
A national home-building alliance between Thrivent Financial
for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International will help
Habitat for Humanity St. Louis expand its home-building capacity.
During 2007, five homes will be built in St. Louis with more
than $600,000 in contributions. The alliance will bring together
thousands of volunteers with financial support from Thrivent
Financial.
On the national level, $24.5 million has been committed to build
355 additional homes in 43 states for families in need in 2007.
“This is a very exciting partnership for me personally and for
Habitat,” states Courtney Pittman, director of resources for
Habitat for Humanity St. Louis. “Because of Thrivent Builds
with Habitat for Humanity funding, we will be five homes closer
to our overall goal of building 25 homes in 2007. That’s five
more St. Louis families in simple, decent, affordable housing.”
THREE STARTUPS WIN $90,000 IN SEED FUNDING
AT OLIN CUP
Three early-stage companies received commitments for funding
and mentoring support at the annual Olin Cup Awards at Washington
University’s Olin School of Business.
The top prize of $50,000 went to Neurolife, developer of a device
that allows doctors to measure brain pressure without surgery.
Current standards-of-care place patients at risk for infection,
bleeding and brain damage.
During the Feb. 1 ceremony, two other companies received $20,000
in funding: Senetric, which developed software to reduce the
cost of radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor networks;
and Smart DNA Solutions, which offers affordable genetic testing.
The $5,000 student award went to Neurolife’s Peter Braxton,
a first-year MBA student. Neurolife is the brainchild of his
brother, Earnest E. Braxton, M.D. Peter Braxton said the awards
will support feasibility studies, marketing, legal fees and
negotiating the Food and Drug Administration approval process.
Ken Harrington, managing director of the Skandalaris Center
for Entrepreneurial Studies, said candidates so impressed the
investment committee that its commitment was raised from $70,000
to $90,000.
Innovate St. Louis will help recruit mentor teams for both Neurolife
and Smart DNA Solutions. The St. Louis Entrepreneurs Organization
(EO) also is offering mentorship.
Founded in 1985, the Olin Cup in 2001 began awarding up to $70,000
in seed funding with the support of the Skandalaris family.
The competition has resulted in more than 50 new businesses
formed by business students and alumni. To receive a cash award,
a team must include at least one Washington University student
or alum.
Previous Olin Cup recipients include Somark Innovations, Luminomics,
Innovium, and The Blessing Basket Project.
The RCGA and St. Louis Commerce Magazine serve as sponsors of
the Olin Cup Competition.
For more information on entrepreneurship, please visit St. Louis
RCGA website at http://www.gotostlouis.org./x416.xml
TWO LOCAL INSURANCE FIRMS MERGE TO CREATE
THE CORNERSTONE INSURANCE GROUP
Corporate Benefit Consultants and Wilson & Associates, two St.
Louis-based insurance firms, have merged to create The Cornerstone
Insurance Group. The two companies plan to broaden their scopes
of corporate insurance services.
Corporate Benefit Consultants was established in 1989 and specializes
in customized health insurance and benefit plans for a variety
of companies. Wilson & Associates has been providing comprehensive
property and casualty insurance and employee benefit programs
to their clients for more than 40 years.
MISSOURI HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
AWARDS $6.3 MILLION IN GRANTS
The Missouri Housing Development Commission awarded 103 grants
worth $6.3 million during their meeting in Jefferson City, Mo.
The commission administers the Missouri Housing Trust Fund,
which is designed to increase affordable housing opportunities
and homelessness assistance for very low-income families.
In 2006, the fund received 171 applications requesting more
than $18.5 million in funding. Grants were awarded for services
that included homeless prevention ($3,782,000); construction
and rehabilitation for homeless and special needs housing ($825,000);
home repair ($895,000); staff services ($652,000) and rental
assistance ($146,000). The entire list of funded agencies is
available at www.mhdc.com.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL RELEASES ANNUAL MARKET
REVIEW AND INVESTMENT UPDATE
The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois has released its
2005-2006 Market Review and Investment Update, which showcases
the economic growth in Madison and St. Clair counties. Almost
$4 billion in public and private investments were announced,
under construction or completed during the 12-month period that
ended Aug. 31, 2006.
“The unique mix of investments underscores the increasing diversity
of Southwestern Illinois’ economy and reinforces our regions’
economic role in the metropolitan area,” noted Patrick McKeehan,
executive director of the council.
Here are some highlights from the report:
Twenty-nine major industrial projects accounted for $2.3 billion
in investments. At the top of the list is the first phase of
the ConocoPhillips Coker project in Roxana, Ill., valued at
$2 billion, followed by the $110 million Verasun Energy project
in Granite City and Center Ethanol Company’s $100 million project
in Sauget.
Commercial investments totaled nearly $710 million with more
than 80 planned projects in various stages of development. The
largest single project is the $110 million Lowes/Wal-Mart complex
currently under construction in Belleville, followed closely
by a $90 million Target/Home Depot project also slated for Belleville.
Financial institutions and office buildings experienced a dramatic
50 percent increase in investments over the previous year with
a total of $65.4 million.
Major public investment increased by 18 percent from the previous
year to $238.8 million in 2005.
Office and professional investments increased by 50 percent
over the previous year to $65.4 million.
The Market Review and Investment Update for 2005-2006 is available
online at www.siteselection-il.com
For more information on Southwestern Illinois, please visit
the St. Louis RCGA website at http://www.gotostlouis.org./x254.xml
CHIHULY'S CHANDELIER, ONIONS AND HERONS
WILL REMAIN AT THE GARDEN
Chihuly’s “Glass in the Garden” exhibition ended, but his Walla
Walla Onions and Sunset Herons will remain at the
Missouri Botanical Garden for its permanent collection.
A gift valued at $200,000 from the Peters Family Charitable
Fund allowed the Garden to purchase 15 Sunset Herons. The water
birds will remain inside the Climatron.
Nearly 200 donors contributed to the purchase of 25 colorful
onions, valued at $350,000, which will be displayed spring through
fall in the round reflecting pool opposite the Climatron. In
the summer, they will float below Carl Milles’ towering Angel
Musicians.
As announced last fall, the Missouri Botanical Garden Blue
Chandelier will remain suspended above the Ridgway Center
main entrance. The glass sculpture was purchased for the Garden
with funds donated by exhibition sponsor Emerson and from the
estate of Dr. Richard I.C. and Barbara Hagnauer Muckerman, in
honor of Hilbert W. and Amy J. Hagnauer.
CARDINAL RITTER PREP STUDENTS HELP RENOVATE
LOW-INCOME HOUSING
Students of Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School are literally
helping to build a better St. Louis through the Solomon Project,
a volunteer-led program that provides affordable housing for
lower-income families. In December 2006, volunteers converted
a four-family flat in the 2000 block of North Spring Avenue
into two townhouses.
“It’s great to see our students involved,” states Joe Pecaut,
the Cardinal Ritter Prep theology instructor who coordinated
the school’s involvement in the project. “Nine students volunteer
regularly and others help out. They’re working with other students
from around the area and have learned a lot about the neighborhood.”
Students volunteer two Saturdays a month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
People interested in volunteering for the Solomon Project can
contact Joe Pecaut at jpecaut@cardinalritterprep.org. The program
is sponsored by North Grand Neighborhood Services.
ST. PATRICK CENTER RECEIVES $3.5 MILLION
FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
Sandy K. Baruah, Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr. and U.S. Sen. Christopher
“Kit” Bond presented a $3.5 million Economic Development Administration
investment check to the St. Patrick Center in St. Louis on Dec.
19, 2006. The funds will be used for renovations to accommodate
a small business incubator and a trades training center.
Baruah also presented the center with the 2006 EDA Excellence
in Economic Development Award for Community and Faith-Based
Social Entrepreneurship. The winners of the EDA’s Excellence
Awards represent the best and brightest economic development
methods and practices in use today.
St. Patrick Center annually provides services to 10,000 individuals
and families and is Missouri’s largest provider of homeless
services, according to the organization’s Web site.
COMMERCE BANK EXECS MENTOR VASHON HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS
For seven years, executives from Commerce Bank have been mentoring
teens from Vashon High School through the Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Eastern Missouri program. The company has an extensive site-based
mentoring program in which its executives meet with students
at the bank’s Clayton offices. The mentoring program fills a
critical need for high school students, noted Pam Weston, employee
communications coordinator for Commerce Bank.
“Teens kind of get overlooked for mentoring,” she says. “You
may think they’re functioning as adults, but they really need
structure. They need to start thinking about what’s next in
life.”
Every other Thursday during the academic year, Commerce Bank
employees coach their Vashon “Littles” on interpersonal communication,
resume writing, financial planning and other skills. In one
recent workshop, the Vashon students selected and evaluated
stocks in an imaginary portfolio.
VANDIVER GROUP COMPLETES EMERGENCY RISK
COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING
The Vandiver Group completed Emergency Risk Communications training
for first responders and public health officials across the
state of Missouri. The training session included discussions
about agency plans and how to communicate them to the public
in the event of a crisis like 9/11, anthrax or pandemic influenza.
More than 60 cabinet-level Missouri leaders attended the training
session, which was sponsored by the Missouri Department of Health
and Senior Services and the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
The event was made possible by grant money from the Centers
for Disease Control under Homeland Security.
MC INDUSTRIAL STARTS WORK AT HOLCIM’S
STE. GENEVIEVE CEMENT PLANT
MC Industrial, an independent McCarthy company, has finished
the first two of 13 silos to be built over the next 18 months
at the new Holcim cement plant in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo.
In the span of just 16 days, MC Industrial poured 6,015 yards
of concrete to create the two 275-foot-tall clinker silos.
MC Industrial is working on the project in a joint venture partnership
with T.E. Ibberson, a Minneapolis, Minn.-based contractor. In
February, the company was scheduled to begin work on the first
of 207-foot-tall silos. Once those are finished, nine more silos
for storing cement will be constructed with an estimated completion
date of February 2008.
MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT AWARD TO URBAN
ROOTS INITIATIVE FOR DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION
The St. Louis Master Gardeners have awarded $1,000 to the Urban
Roots Landscape Enhancement Initiative for its seasonal flower
display planted on the Market Street median between Broadway
Street and Seventh Street. Enhancements included hanging planters,
colorful masses of summer flowers, seasonal plantings, windowsill
planters and border plantings at various locations downtown.
Urban Roots is a downtown landscape enhancement initiative led
by a variety of nonprofit organizations, including Downtown
St. Louis Partnership, Flora Conservancy of Forest Park, Gateway
Greening, Gateway Professional Horticulturist Association, Operation
Brightside, St. Louis Master Gardeners and St. Louis Parks,
Recreation and Forestry.
BANNERS MAKE CLAYTON STREETS MORE BICYCLE-FRIENDLY
The Great Rivers Greenway District has selected Clayton to launch
an on-street banner program that will make area streets more
bicycle-friendly. The banners feature large graphic silhouettes
of bicyclists, and each banner promotes one of 12 different
messages focused on the health and environmental benefits of
bicycling. Messages include “Burn calories, not gas,” “Bicycles
run on renewable energy,” “Bike commutes don’t pollute” and
“Calories burned per mile bicycling—25,” as well as others.
The banners will be displayed on light standards throughout
Clayton’s central business district and strategically interspersed
on light standards along Wydown Boulevard.
“We are delighted that Clayton was selected by the Great Rivers
Greenway District for this project,” stated Clayton Mayor Benjamin
Uchitelle. “The banners not only encourage bicycling as a viable
alternative transportation option, they also reinforce for our
citizens, workers and visitors the health benefits of outdoor
exercise and fitness activities.”
