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NEWSMAKERS
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UMB
Bank, St. Louis Names Kotiza to President
Ken
E. Kotiza |
In
his new position as president of UMB Bank, St. Louis, Ken E.
Kotiza is responsible for business development, strategic
planning and civic and government affairs. He replaces R. Crosby
Kemper III, who has been promoted to chairman and CEO of UMB Bank.
In addition to a master’s degree in business administration from
Washington University in St. Louis, Kotiza has more than 27 years
of banking experience. He also is on the board of the American
Red Cross, Downtown St. Louis Partnership, Echo-Emergency Children’s
Home, Women’s Support and Community Services and City Academy.
UMB Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of UMB Financial Corporation,
which has $7.8 billion in assets. The multi-bank holding company,
headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., owns and operates 161 locations
throughout Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and
Oklahoma.
Taylor and Schnuck Recognized for Service to St. Louis Minority
Business Council
(Left
to right), Mitchell P. Baden, chairman of the board
of directors for SLMBC; Eddie G. Davis, president
of SLMBC; Joanne Griffin, vice president of administration
for Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Craig Schnuck, CEO and
chairman of Schnuck Markets Inc.; and Julia A. Holmes,
chair of MBEIC Committee.
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The St. Louis
Minority Business Council (SLMBC) has awarded the Chairman’s Award
of Excellence to Andrew C. Taylor, president of Enterprise
Rent-A-Car and past president of Civic Progress, and Craig
D. Schnuck, chairman and CEO of Schnuck Markets Inc. and chairman
of Civic Progress’ Racial Economic Progress Committee.
Taylor and Schnuck were recognized for their participation in
the development of effective internal programs that present business
opportunities for minority contractors and suppliers.
“The continued success of the region depends on our ability to
celebrate and embrace the rich and diverse energy of all people,”
says Mitchell P. Baden, executive vice president of South Side
National Bank and chairman of SLMBC board of directors. Baden
presented the award at the annual Minority Business Opportunity
Fair (BOF), which provides minority business entrepreneurs a chance
to network with corporate purchasing managers from select companies
and government agencies throughout the region.
“We hope the fair can demonstrate how the wonderful diversity
in St. Louis contributes to our progress and prosperity,” Baden
adds.
Founded in 1973, the not-for-profit SLMBC links corporations,
government agencies and large institutions with minority-owned
businesses in the common goal of revitalizing St. Louis through
increased economic growth.
Memphis Chamber Exec Recruited to RCGA as Senior Vice President
Following a several month national search, the RCGA has recruited
Steven D. Gilbert as senior vice president for New Economy
Enterprise. Most recently, Gilbert led the nationally-acclaimed
workforce development initiatives at the Memphis Area Chamber
of Commerce, as well as heading Memphis’ High Tech Council.
In his new role, he will lead the RCGA’s initiatives in industry
cluster development (focusing initially on plant/life sciences
and information technologies), as well as the RCGA’s workforce
development and technology initiatives. His responsibilities
will also include serving as the Director of the RCGA Technology
Gateway Alliance, the civic partnership of regional technology
professionals and research universities working to stimulate the
development of the St. Louis region’s technology economy.
“It has been suggested that St. Louis has the potential to become
the Silicon Valley of the Midwest,” says Dick Fleming, president
& CEO of the RCGA. “However, if the region cannot meet technology
companies’ seemingly insatiable demand for qualified workers,
we will never reach this potential.” In Memphis, Steve Gilbert
created a national award-winning regional workforce development
program that has become a model for other regions. He also headed
the Memphis High-Tech Council. “We are extremely pleased that
Steve will now be bringing his unique capabilities and experience
to the RCGA,” Fleming notes.
At 36, Gilbert has served as senior vice president of Workforce
Development at the Memphis Chamber since January 1997. In that
role, he directed and implemented portions of that region’s multi-year
$14 million private/public economic development strategic plan,
“Memphis 2005.” This effort has been recognized as a state and
national “best practice” model for meeting private sector workforce
needs in a regional marketplace.
His other professional experience includes heading workforce development
efforts for the Metropolitan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, serving
as a Senior Management Consultant in Public Policy for Coopers
& Lybrand, and public sector workforce development experience
with the City of Tulsa.
He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s
degree in communications. He also completed a number of continuing
education courses in e-strategies in the New Economy, management
and diversity training.
TWA Elects Two VPs
The board of directors of Trans World Airlines, Inc. (TWA) has
elected two new vice presidents to head two of TWA’s biggest customer
service departments. Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, formerly managing
director of airport operations, has been promoted to vice president
of airport operations. Barbara King, formerly managing
director of reservations has been promoted to vice president of
reservations.
Hamm-Niebruegge joined Ozark Airlines as a customer service agent
in 1984 and transferred to TWA when TWA acquired Ozark in 1986.
She has held positions of increasing responsibility, including
director of eastern region airport operations and director of
St. Louis hub operations.
King started with TWA in 1979 as a reservations sales agent. Her
previous positions include regional director of airport operations
and director airport support services.
Webster University Appoints New Dean of the School of Business
and Technology
Dr.
Benjamin Ola. Akande |
Neil J. George, executive vice president and vice president for
academic affairs at Webster University has announced the appointment
of Benjamin Ola. Akande, Ph.D. as the new academic dean
of Webster University’s School of Business and Technology.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Akande to our outstanding academic
community. A national search process identified Dr. Akande as
a remarkable leader, business educator and academic administrator,”
George says. “Dr. Akande also brings a strong background in corporate
partnerships, and in international business.”
Akande will be the chief academic and administrative officer for
the School of Business and Technology, which includes the business,
management, and math and computer science departments. The school
offers undergraduate and graduate programs and enrolls more than
10,000 students worldwide.
“In the landscape of business education, Webster University is
on the verge of true greatness,” says Akande, who was appointed
after a nationwide search. “I am honored to be on the team of
architects that will make this happen.”
Before joining Webster University, Akande was the chair of the
division of business and the special assistant to the president
at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas.
With a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oklahoma, Akande
was also a student in the Executive Leadership Program “Leadership
for the 21st Century,” at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy
School of Government and at the McGuire Oil and Gas Initiative
Institute at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business.
Akande has worked as an economic consultant for the World Bank
and the United Nations Development Program.
Follman Properties ONCOR International Promotes Sammons to
VP
Kathie M. Sammons, director of information services at
Follman Properties ONCOR International, has been promoted to vice
president. She has been with Follman for almost six years and
has more than 15 years of experience in demographic analysis and
the various aspects of market research in St. Louis and other
metropolitan areas. Sammons is responsible for real estate market
surveys and analysis and the evaluation of the impact of economic
changes on real estate sectors. Sammons also provides information
technology support to the company.
Sammons recently earned her real estate broker’s license from
the state of Missouri and has a master’s degree in urban planning
from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining Follman, Sammons
served as a commercial appraiser at Appraisal Research Corporation.
SSM Health Care Appoints Convery as Chief Medical Officer
As the newly appointed executive vice president and chief medical
officer of SSM Health Care–St. Louis (SSMHC), Paul B. Convery,
MD, will provide consultation and support to the SSMHC hospitals
in clinical performance improvement and medical management.
SSMHC includes SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, SSM DePaul
Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Health Center/Hospital West, SSM
St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood, SSM St. Mary’s Health Center
and SSM Rehab.
For the past year, Convery served as executive vice president
and chief medical officer for the SSM Physician’s Organization.
Prior to joining SSMHC, Convery was medical director for Southwest
Medical Center in St. Louis.
In conjunction with SSMHC hospitals, Convery will coordinate the
transition to a decentralized medical management structure, which
places accountability for medical management at the hospitals.
Dillow Elected Associate Partner at Woolpert
Dave Dillow was recently elected associate partner at Woolpert
LLP, a professional services firm that offers consulting expertise
in a wide range of engineering/architectural related disciplines.
Dillow, a manager of site/civil design in the St. Louis region,
has been employed with Woolpert for nine years. He has a master’s
in business administration from Southern Illinois University at
Edwardsville.
With a staff of more than 60 locally and more than 700 nationally,
Woolpert has 21 offices in 14 states and has ranked since 1996
in the top 200 in the Engineering News Record’s top 500 design
firms.
John Handy Joins Commerce To Head Personal Trust & Private Bank
John K. Handy has been named executive vice president,
manager, of the personal trust, investment management group at
Commerce Bank. Handy is responsible for the personal trust, private
banking and family foundation lines of business for the company’s
investment management operating unit, which is responsible for
more than $18 billion in assets.
Handy most recently was the director and chief operating officer
of TIAA-CREF, a trust company with $15 billion in assets under
management. Prior to that, Handy worked for Bank of America for
10 years, where he was responsible for the management of client
relationships ranging in size from $1 to $50 million and the development
of products and services for client relationships under $10 million
in market value.
“John’s proven performance in personal trust and private banking
will further strengthen our position in our markets as the premier
provider of integrated financial services to high net worth clients,”
says Ray Stranghoener, president of the investment management
group for Commerce Bank.
HOK Consulting Promotes Althoff to Senior VP
Ann Althoff recently was promoted to senior vice president
in the St. Louis office of HOK Consulting, a specialized practice
within HOK (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum), Inc. HOK Consulting
provides a wide variety of planning and consulting services to
real estate and facilities executives.
In her new position, Althoff develops strategic corporate accounts;
markets new services for companies preparing for mergers or acquisitions;
and leverages client relationships for international opportunities.
As director of marketing for HOK Consulting, Althoff works with
numerous national account clients, including BellSouth, Nortel
Networks and CapitalOne Financial Corp.
Throughout Althoff’s 10 years with HOK, she has focused on assisting
HOK’s corporate clients with decision-making during the pre-design
and design process to achieve their real estate and facilities
goals of lower occupancy costs, improved productivity, enhanced
risk and resource management, and agile responses to change.
Althoff has a master’s degree in urban affairs from Saint Louis
University and a bachelor’s degree in English/theater from Fontbonne
College.
MLS President Named to Board of Youth in Need
Herbert
M Lesser |
Herbert M. Lesser, president of MLS Homes, has been elected to
the board of directors of Youth in Need, which provides counseling
and other services to young people in high-risk situations. Lesser,
founder of MLS Homes and past president of the Home Builders Association
of Greater St. Louis, has been an active supporter of the program’s
efforts for several years.
“As homebuilders, I believe we have a special obligation to the
welfare of the community at large. By focusing on our youngsters,
Youth In Need serves as a valuable resource for the next generation—hopefully,
improving the future quality of life in the area.”
MLS Homes has built more than 600 single-family homes in St. Charles
County and is currently marketing its award-winning design in
five upscale county neighborhoods.
Sieckhaus Named VP, Principal of Clayco
Steve
Sieckhaus |
Steve Sieckhaus has been promoted to vice president of operations
and became a principal at Clayco Construction Co., the nation’s
120th largest general contracting company.
“From day one, our focus has been to attract the absolute best
people in the business and then to retain them by making good
on compensation sharing and open book management commitments,”
says Robert G. Clark, CEO of the nationwide provider of commercial
design/build construction; tilt-up concrete; and industrial repair,
renovation and equipment installation services.
“The addition of Steve to our ownership group strengthens the
foundation of the company and is an important building block that
furthers the prospects for our continued success over the long
term,” Clark adds.
Sieckhaus joined Clayco in 1995 as a project manager. He was promoted
to senior project manager before leaving St. Louis in 1998 to
open Clayco’s first regional office in Chicago. He has been involved
in commercial construction since 1987.
Sieckhaus graduated from the University of Missouri–Rolla with
a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree
in engineering management.
B’nai B’rith International Honors St. Louis Health Care Exec
B’nai B’rith International, a Washington, D.C.-based organization
that is noted for its work with human rights and civil liberties
for more than 150 years, has recognized St. Louis health-care
executive Fred L. Brown for his civic and professional
contributions during his 35-year health career. This is the 18th
year B’nai B’rith has bestowed the National Health Care Award,
which recognizes individuals for their services to the health-care
field and their communities.
Brown has served in key administrative posts across the nation,
including the founding president and CEO of BJC Health System
in St. Louis. He is currently vice chairman of BJC Health System,
the immediate past chairman of American Hospital Association and
visiting professor at George Washington University in Washington,
D.C.
Brown is a board member and senior advisor for several non-profit,
for-profit, civic and charitable organizations across the nation.
He has received dozens of honors and awards throughout his career,
including the Gold Award from the American College of Health Care
Executives and a Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri
Hospital Association.
Brown has a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, a
master’s degree from George Washington University and an honorary
doctorate from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
RBG&Co. Names Herber Assistant Managing Partner
John F. Herber, Jr. has been named assistant managing partner
of Rubin, Brown, Gornstein & Co. (RBG&Co.), which has grown to
be the 42nd largest accounting firm in the country.
Herber, who joined the firm in 1987, currently is the partner
in charge of the manufacturing and distribution services groups
and also serves as co-chair of the assurance services group. He
serves clients in the distribution, manufacturing, and service
industries and has experience with diversified audit, accounting
and income tax matters. His consulting experience includes analysis
of inventory costing systems, strategic planning and individual,
business and estate tax planning.
A graduate of the 1996 Clayton Chamber of Commerce Leadership
Program, Herber is in charge of RBG&Co’s new Business Performance
Analysis (BPA) audit process. He also serves on the firm’s technology
committee and regularly conducts in-house staff training. He has
a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting
from John Carroll University in Cleveland.
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In
memory of
ROBERT A. BROOKS 1931 - 2000
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Bob
Brooks’ death last month was not only a great loss
for Gabriel Communications, which he co-founded and
chaired, to the national and international high-tech
community, to his family, but his passing was also
a great loss to St. Louis’ civic and business communities.
Brooks was a truly remarkable man—a visionary with
an uncanny ability to see trends and business opportunities
well before others, a high-tech entrepreneur and venture
capitalist who founded such successful companies as
Cencom Cable, Brooks Fiber, OneComm Communications
and Gabriel.
He was the subject of many national news stories and
brought great recognition to the region. In May 1999,
he was featured in Upstart, a supplement of Telephony
magazine. Shortly after that, he was selected as a
1999 Top Ten Entrepreneur by Red Herring, a magazine
that focuses on “The Business of Technology.” In March
2000, he appeared on the cover of St. Louis Commerce
Magazine.
He was also a great humanitarian, who raised millions
of dollars for those in need throughout the St. Louis
region, in particular for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
In fact, Archbishop Justin Rigali performed Brooks’
funeral mass. Bob Brooks will be greatly missed.
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Deloitte & Touche Names New St. Louis Execs
Deloitte & Touche LLP, one of the nation’s leading professional
services firms, has named several new executives to the St. Louis
office. The firm, which provides assurance and advisory, tax,
and management consulting services through 30,000 people in more
than 100 U.S. cities.
Michael E. Zychinski, who was previously a managing partner
of the Deloitte & Touche practice in Orlando, Fla., has been named
managing partner in St. Louis. He has more than 23 years of diversified
public accounting experience with public and privately held clients.
He has served in a variety of industries, including manufacturing,
retail distribution, hospitality and leisure and mergers and acquisitions.
Daniel E. Wetzel has been admitted to the partnership in
the St. Louis office. In 1998, Wetzel joined the management solutions
and services practice of Deloitte & Touche. Wetzel has more than
12 years experience in a broad variety of industries, including
business valuation, corporate finance and recovery, business turnaround,
dispute resolution and analysis.
Greg Massarella has been named associate national managing
director for management solutions and services. He has more than
20 years of experience in public accounting, providing management
advisory services to clients in information technology, business
financial planning and operations management.
Nancy Droesch has been named assurance and advisory partner-in-charge
of the St. Louis office. Since joining Deloitte & Touche in 1981,
Droesch has served a variety of St. Louis area companies with
audit, tax, consulting, valuation and reimbursement services.
As the newly promoted director in the assurance and advisory services
division of the St. Louis office, Sandra K. Wedewer has
more than 12 years of experience in public accounting specializing
in the utility services industry. In addition, Wedewer is the
St. Louis support manager for the AS/2 audit software, in which
she has assisted in initiatives to reduce audit costs for clients
through audit efficiencies.
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