ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BEGINS GATEWAY TO
COLLEGE INITIATIVE
St. Louis Community College has received a $350,000 startup grant to become a replication site for the Gateway to College program, which helps high school dropouts continue their education. Developed by Portland Community College in Oregon, the program enables young adults, ages 16 to 20, to earn a high school diploma while simultaneously earning college credit toward an associate degree or certificate.
“The education system loses many students, particularly from low-income families, during the high school-to-college transition,” stated Marcia Pfeiffer, president of St. Louis Community College’s Florissant Valley campus. “This program blends both high school and college-level work into a single academic program that we hope will challenge and inspire students to complete an associate’s degree and beyond or prepare them for high-skill careers.”
The grant will be pooled with funding from partner school districts to provide support staff and services for up to 350 dropouts from the Hazelwood and Ferguson-Florissant school districts. Students must meet specific criteria to enter the program and will be dually enrolled at Florissant Valley until they complete their high school diploma or reach the age of 21.
The Gateway to College National Network is part of the Early College High School Initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
CLAYCO AND PARIC HONORED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW EXPRESS SCRIPTS HEADQUARTERS
Clayco Inc. and Paric Corp. have won two awards for their joint-venture work constructing the new Express Scripts Inc. headquarters on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. The partners won a Merit Award from the Mid-America Design Build Institute of America and a Keystone Award from the Association of General Contractors’ St. Louis chapter.
The two firms earned the Merit Award for their advanced and innovative application of total integrated project delivery and for their unique solutions to project challenges. Their ability to overcome construction challenges also earned them the Keystone Award.
“We are delighted to be recognized with awards from these fine professional organizations,” stated Tom Sieckhaus, vice president and head of Clayco’s corporate facilities business unit. “Both honors exemplify the passion, teamwork and dedication Clayco and Paric presented on this project.”
The construction of the Express Scripts headquarters, completed in just 17 months, marks the first time a Fortune 500 company relocated its corporate headquarters to a public university’s campus. The facility is designed to meet basic Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Special design elements include a white roof, bamboo and cork floors, energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems, low-flow plumbing fixtures and motion detector lights.
MILLENNIUM COMMUNICATIONS MERGES WITH HUGHES
Public relations firms Millennium Communications Inc. and Hughes have merged and are now operating under the Hughes name from offices in downtown St. Louis and Springfield, Mo. Terms of the transaction, which took effect on Dec. 1, 2007, were not disclosed.
Barbara Pierce, founder and president of Millennium, found the merger appealing because it provided an opportunity to become part of St. Louis’ downtown revitalization and to provide clients with a broader range of in-house services.
“I believe we are truly in the midst of a total transformation in the communications industry,” stated Pierce. “We’re all working and communicating in new ways, and our goal is to remain at the forefront of those approaches for our clients. We also feel this merger offers tremendous opportunities for our staff to continue to grow professionally and to be able to offer our customers a broader array of in-house, fully integrated services.”
Bill Hughes, president of Hughes, noted that Hughes and Millennium have been working together for several months and the time seemed right to formalize their strategic partnership.
Pierce has been named chief public relations officer, and Carol Sheahan, Millennium’s longtime senior vice president, has been appointed senior PR and brand strategist at Hughes. Michelle Mason, Millennium’s account manager, has been named senior PR manager.
SWIDA HONORS OUTSTANDING DEVELOPMENTS
OF THE YEAR
The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority held its annual Outstanding Developments of the Year Awards event at the Gateway Center in Collinsville, Ill. The lunchtime ceremony was highlighted by the announcement of Illinois State Rep. Jay Hoffman as SWIDA’s Outstanding Individual of the Year for 2007.
Capturing honors as the event were Koman Properties’ Collinsville Crossing retail development, the Casino Queen, Midcoast Aviation and Schneider National. The honorees were recognized for their investments in and impact on the Metro East after a keynote address by U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello.
“Today, we honor local developers and employers who are investing in our region, creating jobs and fueling the economy of the Metro East,” noted Bob Lombardi, chairman of SWIDA. “SWIDA is proud of the role we continue to play in supporting and facilitating many of the developments that are positively impacting our region.”
The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority is a special-purpose governmental unit created and designed to catalyze economic development in Bond, Clinton, Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois.
REAL ROCK MUSEUM
CELEBRATES ROCK MUSIC HISTORY IN
ST. LOUIS
KSHE 95 celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2007 with the launch of an online, virtual museum dedicated to celebrating 40 years of rock music and KSHE 95 radio in St. Louis. The Real Rock Museum, located at www.kshe95.com, is a tribute to the role that rock music and KSHE 95 have played in the lives of more than two generations of music fans.
“We were looking for a way to celebrate our four decades of rock music with the kind of flair and style that our listeners have come to expect from KSHE,” stated John Beck, KSHE 95 station manager. “When we started looking at all of the memorabilia we had collected over the years, we realized we needed to find a way to share it with St. Louis.”
The Real Rock Museum is a walk through musical time, complete with audio, photos, videos and enough memories to fill an archive. Highlights include:
- A Hall of Fame Wing, featuring video clips from nationally known stars such as REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent, Rush, Sammy Hagar and Kiss;
- The Essentials Room, featuring 40 “essential” albums identified by
station staff;
- A Wall of Fame identifying all former and current disc jockeys; and
- The Classics, a collection of artwork with the KSHE mascot, Sweetmeat, posing in famous paintings.
Listeners will have a chance to add to the museum’s archives by means of a You-seum, a listener memorabilia room to which fans can send in photos from past KSHE events.
TONY’S EARNS ANOTHER FOUR DIAMOND AWARD
Tony’s Restaurant has been awarded AAA’s prestigious Four Diamond Award for the eighth consecutive year.
“All of us at Tony’s are honored to have been selected for the award,” noted Vincent J. Bommarito, owner of Tony’s. “We know that we earn every Diamond with each meal we serve every day.”
To be considered for AAA approval and rating, lodgings and restaurants must undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA’s professional evaluators. Four Diamond establishments are “geared to individuals in search of a distinctive fine-dining experience,” according to AAA.
ST. CHARLES EDC INCUBATOR GRADUATES ONE BUSINESS
AND WELCOMES TWO NEW TENANTS
At the Economic Development Center of St. Charles County’s business incubator facilities, Advocate Health Associates has graduated and two new tenants, Mortgage Bank Corp and Land Equity America, have joined the group. Established tenants Progress Medical Equipment and CertTech LLC are expanding.
“This is a great place to incubate a new and growing company,” stated Jerry Huber, owner of Advocate Health Associates, a distributor of FDA-approved spinal implant and motion-sparing medical technology manufactured by Globus Medical. The company has grown to six employees and expects to employ a total staff of eight to 10 in the next year.
15,000 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS
Local dean of the College of Education and professor of counseling and family therapy at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and his wife share their perspective on successful marriages in “Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage.” This new book about marriages and relationships by Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz was recently released by Briarcliff Publishing.
The doctors conducted research on more than 15,000 years of successful marriages across cultures and continents, providing a refreshing and uplifting perspective into one of society’s most valuable institutions. By interviewing couples with successful marriages lasting from 30 to 60 years, they learned a lot about marriage, as well as reflecting on their own extraordinarily successful 41-year marriage.
The central point of their 25-year research is that love and relationships are an accumulation of the “little things.” It isn’t enough to just think about the little things or merely talk about the little things, the authors note, one must DO the little things every day to make love and relationships last.
“Golden Anniversaries: The Seven Secrets of Successful Marriage” is
available at bookstores and Amazon.com. For more information, visit http://www.goldenanniversaries.com
ST. LOUIS COUNTY PRESENTS AWARDS TO KEY BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONALS
The St. Louis County Economic Council hosted its Annual Meeting with business, government and civic leaders at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Clayton. In addition to networking, attendees listened to a program that showcased the year’s economic successes presented by SLCEC President and CEO Denny Coleman and St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley.
“St. Louis County experienced a great deal of economic development and job growth over the course of the year across a variety of industries and businesses,” stated Coleman. “Our Annual Meeting is an opportunity for us to report on significant economic successes and thank our business and government leaders for all they do.”
The council presented five awards to local businesses and professionals for their contributions to St. Louis County.
— Edwards Jones received the Business Expansion Award for investing $285 million in expansion projects that will add new buildings and 1,000 high-quality jobs to the north and south campuses.
— The Buzz Westfall Regional Cooperation Award was presented to MoDOT Metro District Engineer Ed Hassinger, who has partnered with St. Louis County on the
I-64 expansion project and on other key economic projects.
— Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard received the Community Partnership Award. The award was shared by the city of Jennings and the Sansone Group for their collaboration on the $40 million project, which revitalized a deteriorated and environmentally contaminated site and created a shopping center that is now 99 percent leased.
— World Wide Technology Inc. received the Dr. William D. Phillips Technology Advancement Award. One of the largest privately held companies in St. Louis, World Wide Technology employs more than 1,000 people and operates in 20 facilities around the world. The company has produced 17 consecutive years of double-digit growth, reaching revenues of $2.1 billion in 2006.
— The Outstanding Entrepreneur Award went to Clifford Holekamp, founder and president of Foot Healers. A client company of the St. Louis Enterprise Center in South County, Foot Healers is a podiatry clinic that has grown into four locations in St. Louis County.
LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNVEILS REDESIGNED WEB SITE
The Labor Management Committee of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois recently launched a redesigned Web site, www.gatewaylabormanagement.org. The site now has a contemporary look and offers thorough background information about the committee and its work on fostering labor-management cooperation.
“The new website serves as an extension of our organization,” stated Marv Finkelstein, executive director of the committee. “It reflects our mission, our goals and our services, and gives the public a better understanding of who we are and what we do.”
Visitors will find information on the committee’s purpose, history, members, annual conference and much more.
ST. LOUIS AND ST. CHARLES COUNTIES HOST FIRST-EVER JOINT COUNCIL MEETING
A historic meeting between members of the St. Louis County Council and St. Charles County Council took place at the St. Louis County Chamber in Clayton. The public meeting between the two groups was the first initiation for an open exchange of ideas on key issues that include economic development, transportation, technology and increased quality of life.
“I am very excited and pleased both St. Louis County and St. Charles County want to continue talks and form a partnership to grow and improve our economy and quality of life for our communities,” stated St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. “This meeting is an important first step in bringing our Counties together.”
Representatives from the two groups agreed to form an ad hoc committee consisting of two appointed council members and a staff member from each county. The special committee will meet quarterly, beginning in January 2008, to address issues and recommendations regarding economic opportunities and partnerships for the counties to work and prosper together.
DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS PARTNERSHIP PRESENTS BETTER DOWNTOWN AWARDS
The Downtown St. Louis Partnership and Southwest Bank presented the Annual Better Downtown Awards at the Top of the Met in St. Louis. The awards are granted in two categories for projects that improve the downtown area’s physical environment at the pedestrian level.
The following projects won Cityscape Awards for significantly improving the street-level environment of their immediate neighborhood:
— Cambridge Heights Condos
— F15teen Restaurant and Lounge
— Fitness Factory
— Masulla
— Pulaski Bank
— Rooster
— San Sai Japanese Grill
— Simply Fondue
— Gelateria
— The Walking Figure
— 9th Street Retail (Baladas, Curves and Espresso Mod)
The following projects won Better Downtown Awards for calling attention to the downtown revitalization throughout the metropolitan area and beyond:
— Bankers Lofts, with Good Works
— Ely Walker Lofts, with English Living and the London Tea Room
— Franklin School Apartments
— Pointe 400
— Cupples One, with J. Buck’s
The Vincent J. Bommarito—Special Merit Award was presented to Taste of St. Louis.
ARTS AND EDUCATION COUNCIL ANNOUNCES
2008 ST. LOUIS ARTS AWARD HONOREES
The Arts and Education Council has announced the 2008 St. Louis Arts Awards honorees. Awards are given in five categories: Corporate Support of the Arts, Excellence in the Arts, Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, Excellence in Philanthropy and Art Educator of the Year. The 2008 honorees are as follows:
— Lifetime Achievement in the Arts
Gyo Obata, a world-renown architect whose career in architectural design has spanned the globe over 50 years
— Excellence in Philanthropy
Mary Ann Lee, an enthusiastic and committed board member and supporter of numerous arts organizations
— Excellence in the Arts
Ivor David Balding, the founder and artistic director of Circus Flora, St. Louis’ very own “theater under a big-top tent”
Gerald Early, noted essayist, American culture critic, and the Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters at Washington University
Stages St. Louis, a professional musical theatre company dedicated to performance and devoted to education and outreach through its Performing Arts Academy and Access the Arts program
— Corporate Support of the Arts
Thompson Coburn LLP, a law firm dedicated to the support of the arts through volunteerism and philanthropy
— Art Educator of the Year
Linda Packard, an art teacher at Reed Elementary School in the Ladue School District
The St. Louis Arts Awards have been
presented since 1992 to honor groups and individuals who are integral to the success of the arts in the community and who make
St. Louis a unique arts community.
ST. LOUIS FOR KIDS AWARDED $1,500,000 IN NATIONAL GRANTS
St. Louis for Kids has been awarded more than $1,500,000 from two national initiatives to support its mission of improving the quality of youth programs in the St. Louis region.
The organization is receiving a three-year federal grant that will total approximately $500,000 per year from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The award will allow St. Louis for Kids to provide capacity-building support, individualized technical assistance, and sub-awards for up to 15 community- and faith-based youth-serving organizations in the St. Louis area.
In partnership with Wyman, St. Louis for Kids also is receiving a grant through The Forum for Youth Investment’s Ready by 21™ Quality Counts Initiative. The organization will receive up to $50,000 per year in funding, consultation and tools to launch a two-year effort to improve the quality and reach of youth programs. The Ready by 21™ Quality Counts Initiative aims to have youth prepared for college, work and life by the age of 21.
SMURFIT-STONE
JOINS WORLD BUSINESS COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has accepted an invitation to join the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a global business organization dedicated to sustainable development through economic growth, ecological balance and social progress.
“Smurfit-Stone is committed to growing our business profitably, responsibly, and safely while protecting the environment, making wise use of our natural resources, and giving back to our communities,” stated Patrick J. Moore, Smurfit-Stone chairman and CEO. “We are proud to have been invited to join the WBCSD, an organization that shares our commitment to sustainability and is widely recognized as the leading business voice on issues of sustainable development.”
The council has 200 members drawn from more than 35 countries and 20 major industrial sectors. Membership is extended to companies that share a commitment to sustainable development.
Correction:
In the January 2008 issue of St. Louis Commerce Magazine in the “Newsmakers” section, Joe McHugh was misidentified as CEO of LDI Integrated Pharmacy Services; he is the chief operating officer (COO). Leonard S. Dino Jr., Pharm. D., is CEO.
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