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BASSINGER'S
ANNOUNCES RECORD SALES IN 2005, EXPANSION IN 2006
(Left
to right): Earl Walker, Bissinger’s Chairman of
the Board; Ken Kellerhals, President, Bissinger’s
Handcrafted Chocolatier; Charles Bryson, Mayor Slay's
Neighborhood Development Executive; Joseph Roddy,
Alderman Ward 17, St. Louis Board of Aldermen; Pat
Bannister, Director, St. Louis Development Corporation;
and Patrick Hensley, Vice President, Hensley Construction.
(Bottome
right) The ceremonial shovel was dipped in Bissinger’s
rich dark chocolate to celebrate the official groundbreaking.
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Headquartered in St. Louis for 80 years and in business for more
than 350 years, Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier has announced
a record 17 percent increase in sales for 2005 and is expanding
its headquarters at 3983 Gratiot Street in St. Louis to better serve
its growing customer base. In May, the company started construction
on a $1 million addition that will expand the existing building
by more than 12,000 square feet. The expansion will provide more
space for offices, storage and facility operations. Bissinger’s
expects the expansion to generate 20 new jobs, bringing the total
employee count at the headquarters to 70.
Part of Bissinger’s growth is attributed to the popularity of its
CHOCOLATE SPA line of chocolates and sweat treats, which took off
in popularity during 2005. Production of CHOCOLATE SPA products
tripled between October 2005 and February 2006. In 2005, the company
also started a wholesale division to handle third-party distribution
of the CHOCOLATE SPA line to premium spas and top retailers across
the nation.
MARITZ EXPANDS ST. LOUIS CALL CENTER
In response to increased demands from its clients, Maritz is hiring
200 customer-service representatives to work in a newly renovated
20,000-square-foot facility that will handle incoming calls from
customers. Maritz is working in partnership with Kelly Services
to staff the center, which offers the latest equipment and state-of-the-art
training facilities.
“Our loyalty, incentives and recognition markets are growing, and
the addition of 200 call-center positions allows Maritz to better
serve our clients’ needs and brings jobs to the St. Louis community,”
states Steve Maritz, chairman and CEO.
Representatives will answer calls from customers who want to redeem
merchandise, travel, gift certificates and experiential awards with
their earned program points.
ST. ANTHONY’S MEDICAL CENTER ANNOUNCES $90
MILLION HOSPITAL FACELIFT
St. Anthony’s Medical Center has started a $90 million hospital
construction project that will result in a new, four-story hospital
facility, a separate pediatric emergency department and private
acute-care patient rooms. The hospital will also renovate and relocate
several clinical services to enhance patient access and care. The
renovation started this summer and is expected to be finished by
mid-2008.
St. Louis Internship Program’s (SLIP) graduated
113 St. Louis Public School sophomores and juniors.
(Left to right): Comedian Arvin Mitchell, SLIP graduate
LaShawna Rancher, SLIP Board Co-Chairman Mark Levison,
and SLIP graduate Al’lecia Broom.
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CASTLE
READALOT OPENS AT ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY
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GHP
Doc Bear visits Castle Readalot to the delight of
two future library users. |
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St. Louis County Library has created a new fantasy atmosphere for
young children that will enhance library visits and make reading
more fun by unveiling Castle Readalot, a miniature medieval castle
replica. Located at the library’s headquarters at 1640 S. Lindbergh
Blvd., the castle is a colorful, exciting area where young children
can choose to read their favorite books, explore or play. The castle
was made possible by a significant donation from Group Health Plan
Inc. Artist Julia Kalb hand painted murals on the outside of the
castle, and Children’s Factory donated furnishings.
HELP BOOST THE SUPPLY
The local blood supply is critically low and our area is currently
on an emergency appeal for blood. American Red Cross needs individuals
and companies to commit to donate to boost the blood supply.
Getting just one or more donors from local companies to donate will
greatly impact the blood supply. Plus, your employees can give the
gift of life together as a team.
Businesses that would like to donate as a company and become part
of American Red Cross Small Business Corporate plan, please call
Margie Boraz (314) 743-1708.
American Red Cross Centers:
• Lindell Center, 4050 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, Mo.
• South County Center, 9230 Watson Road, Crestwood, Mo.
• St. Charles Center, 508 South Fifth Street, St. Charles, Mo.
• North County Center, 1001 Dunn Road, Florissant, Mo.
• West County Center, 13369 Olive Blvd, Chesterfield, Mo.
• Fairview Heights, 10220 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights, Ill.
www.americanredcrossblood.org
1-800-GIVELIFE
ST. LOUIS-BASED DRURY HOTELS RANKED #1 IN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
J.D. Power & Associates, the renowned marketing information services
company, has named St. Louis-based Drury Inn & Suites as #1 in Overall
Customer Satisfaction for the Mid-Scale Limited Service Hotel Segment.
J.D. Power quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses
from 42,211 guests who stayed in hotels between January and June
2006. Drury Inn & Suites ranked highest in guest satisfaction.
In addition, earlier this year Market Metrix announced that Drury
Inns was the top hotel chain among all hotel brands in Market Metrix’
First Quarter Hospitality Index. Drury outranked luxury chains such
as Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Walt Disney World Resorts in addition
to all the major franchise brands.
ST. CHARLES BUSINESS INCUBATOR EXPANDS WITH
NEW BUSINESSES
The business incubators of the Economic Development Center of St.
Charles County are continuing to grow as three new businesses join
the St. Charles incubator and three existing companies expand at
the St. Peters location. New tenants include Advocate Health Associates,
a distributor of FDA-approved spinal implant and motion-sparing
medical technology; Handyman Connection St. Charles, which offers
professional craftsmen for home repairs and light remodeling; and
CertTech LLC, software verification, validation and development
consultants for the healthcare, military and avionic industries.
At the St. Peters incubator, existing tenants Auvi Technologies,
Reason Amplification and Synergy Medical, have been expanding in
recent months.
“We want to warmly welcome each and every new company and congratulate
those growing firms that continue to succeed in the EDC’s incubator
program,” states Greg Prestemon, president and CEO of the Economic
Development Center. “With a waiting list of companies wanting to
move into our facilities and several businesses potentially graduating
this year, exciting things are happening in our two incubators.”
CORTEX I BUILDING EARNS LEED CERTIFICATION,
LOCAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Center of Research, Technology and Entrepreneurial Expertise
has been recognized both locally and nationally for the sustainable
design and construction of CORTEX One, a three-story, 165,000-square-foot
facility located at Boyle Avenue and Forest Park Parkway. On the
national level, the facility has received certification in the Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System
from the U.S. Green Building Council. CORTEX One was awarded Certified
Level in the LEED—CS (core and shell projects) category of ratings.
“CORTEX One is the first Missouri building to be certified in the
LEED-CS program and one of the only LEED-CS lab projects in the
world,” states Paul Merrill, an engineer and LEED-accredited professional
for Clayco, the construction manager for the project. “We are excited
to be part of introducing this new program, which allows designers,
builders and new building owners to achieve LEED certification for
the shell and core prior to tenant build-out.”
Locally, St. Louis Construction News & Review has honored
the building with a Regional Excellence Award in the health and
science category. The project is the first of many planned for a
state-of-the-art life sciences and research development along the
stretch of city between Washington University and Saint Louis University.
BJC HEALTHCARE LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE FOR
HOSPITAL QUALITY
With increasing numbers of patients seeking measurable data about
hospital quality, BJC HealthCare has launched a new quality site
designed to make that search a lot easier. Available at www.bjc.org
or at http://cqweb.bjc.org,
the site provides a clear breakdown of scores by hospital in the
areas of service excellence, patient safety, heart disease and lung
disease.
“Access to quality information is becoming increasingly important
to patients and prospective patients,” states David Weiss, vice
president and CIO at BJC HealthCare. “With our new web site, we
want to share quality information in a clear, accessible and timely
format. We hope patients, employees and members of the community
find the site helpful for making decisions and tracking our progress.”
The site provides definitions of evidence-based standards and scores,
as well as bar graphs that illustrate performance. Service excellence
scores are based on patient satisfaction surveys and focus on advocacy
and overall quality. In addition to ratings for BJC’s hospitals,
the site provides scores for the national average and for the top
10 percent of hospitals in the country, whenever data is available.
The site can also be accessed through the main page of each BJC
hospital, and some hospitals offer additional data depending on
their specialties.
PACE PROPERTIES UNVEILS A GLIMPSE OF VALENCIA
LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS
Prospective buyers interested in purchasing a luxury residence surrounded
by upscale shops, fine restaurants and European architecture were
offered a first glimpse of the new condominium residences Valencia
at The Boulevard-St. Louis in June. Developer Pace Properties held
a preview event to unveil the 15-story luxury condominium tower
that is going up at Brentwood Boulevard across from the Saint Louis
Galleria.
Slated to open in the spring of 2008, the condominiums are the centerpiece
of a second phase of construction at The Boulevard-St. Louis, a
mixed-use development of upscale retail stores, fine dining and
luxury residences. Phase II of this lifestyle center will also feature
a full-service hotel, a spa, and 120,000 square feet of retail space.
The Valencia will join retail stores such as Crate & Barrel and
Soft Surroundings, restaurants including Maggiano’s Little Italy
and P.F. Chang’s, and the Allegro Luxury Apartments.
“We have had many people look at the Allegro apartments and ask
if they can own a residence at The Boulevard. They appreciate the
European feel of the neighborhood, and we are responding with Valencia
Condominiums,” states Rob Sherwood, managing director at Pace Properties.
“This prime location appeals to homeowners who want a very central
location, convenient to Clayton, and with lots of amenities including
shopping, dining and recreation.”
ECO RECYCLING TAKES OVER FORMER LUMBERYARD
SITE
Clark Properties has signed a six-year agreement to lease a 27-acre
site formerly used by Hill-Behan Lumber Co. in the Pagedale area
of north St. Louis County and convert the site into a recycling
center for construction materials.
Eco Recycling Inc. is a newly formed company headed by Tim Surmeier
and partners Mike Clark and Tom Barnewolt of Clark Properties. The
firm began operations on March 1 as a permitted site for recycling
concrete and asphalt generated from the demolition of residential,
commercial, industrial and public works projects.
County officials are hailing the project as the next step in the
redevelopment of St. Louis’ inner-circle suburbs. The private venture
did not require tax credits or public funding.
The center is expected to recycle concrete and asphalt waste from
construction projects inside Interstate 270, according to Surmeier.
He added that the company’s central location will allow customers
to offset rising fuel costs by making shorter runs and moving more
material each day.
Once waste arrives at the site, it will be sorted, crushed and compacted
for clean fill to be used on the site or sold to contractors. Profits
from the recycling process will help pay for demolishing the former
lumberyard’s 17 buildings and preparing the site for future development.
SONNENSCHEIN NATH & ROSENTHAL DONATES
$50,000 TO ST. LOUIS FOR KIDS
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(Left
to right): Dee Joyce-Hayes, of-counsel, Sonnenschein
Nath & Rosenthal and St. Louis for Kids Advisory Board
Member; Roger Heidenreich, managing partner, Sonnenschein
Nath & Rosenthal; Jama Dodson, executive director,
St. Louis for Kids and Mike Mueller, president, AmerenEnergy
Fuels and Services Co. and St. Louis for Kids Board
Chair. |
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As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, law firm Sonnenschein
Nath & Rosenthal LLP presented a $50,000 gift to St. Louis for Kids,
a local nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality
of after-school programs. The gift is part of the law firm’s company-wide
centennial celebration, which has a theme of helping to make a difference
through education.
St. Louis for Kids will use the donation to fund training and professional
development programs for area youth workers and after-school program
staff. The organization provides leadership, coordination, technical
assistance and advocacy to other youth-serving organizations that
are focused on improving after-school programs for children.
AMERINET ACQUIRES VECTOR’S GROUP PURCHASING
ASSETS, NAMES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Amerinet, a healthcare group purchasing organization, has acquired
the group purchasing assets of Providence, R.I.-based Vector Inc.,
a shareholder company of Amerinet. Amerinet had previously announced
plans to switch from a shareholder-based model to a single national
enterprise, and a key component of that transition was the acquisition
of Vector’s group purchasing assets. The process began in 2003 when
Amerinet united its network of companies under a new national image
and strategic direction.
The company also announced a new board of directors chaired by Bert
R. Zimmerli, senior vice president and chief financial officer of
Intermountain Healthcare.
Bert
R. Zimmerli,
chair, Board of Directors Amerinet |
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MCKENDREE COLLEGE RECEIVES $1.7 MILLION ESTATE GIFT
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(Left
to right): McKendree College President James M.
Dennis accepts a $1.7 million check from the Greenwood
estate presented by Herb Morisse, of National City
Private Client Group. |
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McKendree College has received a generous $1.7 million gift from
the estate of Russell and Louise Greenwood that will be used to
establish a memorial scholarship fund for students at the college
who need financial assistance. The Greenwoods initially indicated
that they would like to support a scholarship to the college during
a visit in 1971. Thirty-five years later, their wishes have been
fulfilled.
Russell Greenwood served on a research team at Alcoa in East St.
Louis before he retired in 1970, and Louise worked as a secretary.
Russell and Louise passed away in 2003 and 2005, respectively, and
both were in their nineties. Their assets had grown to more than
one million dollars, and with no children to inherit the money;
the Greenwoods passed it on to McKendree College.
“Russell had attended McKendree as a non-traditional student in
the 1940s, taking evening classes,” states Jane Weingartner, administrator
emerita and former planned giving director at McKendree. “As Alcoa
scaled back its East St. Louis workforce, Russell’s education, versatility
and experience made him an especially valuable employee who continued
with the company until his retirement in 1970.”
DARDENNE PRAIRIE BREAKS GROUND ON FIRST
PUBLIC PARK
The city of Dardenne Prairie, Mo., will have its first public park
thanks to a public-private partnership between The Great Rivers
Greenway District, McEagle Properties LLC, Vantage Homes and the
communities of Dardenne Prairie and O’Fallon. In June, the group
started work on an 85-acre recreational area located off of Highway
40 between Highway K and WingHaven Boulevard. Plans call for the
parkland to surround BaratHaven, a 165-acre residential community
that will be bordered by three miles of trails and a 15-acre lake.
Ultimately, the park will connect to the Green Rivers Greenway District’s
River Ring of connected trails around the St. Louis region.
DELONG ADDS STRONG VENTURE CAPITAL EXPERTISE
TO RCGA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Jay
DeLong,
Vice President for New Ventures and Capital Formation,
RCGA |
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Following a several-month-long national recruitment effort, the
RCGA is pleased to announce the recruitment of Jay DeLong as RCGA
Vice President for New Ventures and Capital Formation.
In his position on the RCGA Economic Development team, DeLong will
play a key role, working in collaboration with area venture capital
firms, in identifying and recruiting promising start-up technology
companies from other markets, as well as working to recruit additional
venture capital funding to the St. Louis region.
His nearly 20 years of economic development experience includes
his most recent role as president of Active Capital in Irvine, Calif.,
an Internet-based security matching company; he was also founder
and executive director of Venture Point, the nation’s only Small
Business Development Center (SBDC) specializing in technology companies
and entrepreneurs facing issues of capital formation, critical time-to-market,
and management of fast growth.
Prior to starting Venture Point, DeLong was Director of Strategic
Initiatives for the Orange County Business Council, running technical
assistance ventures supporting technology transfer, defense conversion,
equity investing and high growth enterprises.
Previously, he directed the American Consortium of Information Systems
Technology (ACIST) in Moscow, Russia for three years. DeLong has
directed numerous projects designed to promote international trade,
technology development and foreign investment for private corporations
and federal agencies.
He has served on a number of professional association boards, a
sampling of which includes the Pacific Incubation Network, the Tech
Coast Venture Network and the California Venture Forum. He has also
founded and/or directed several conferences in life sciences and
information technology, and has twice chaired the national Corporate
Investment and Strategic Alliance Conference. A native of Jefferson
City, DeLong relocated to California in 1989. His educational background
includes being awarded an International Business Certificate from
the American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale,
Ariz., and bachelors of science degrees in Political Science and
Philosophy from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.
FIRST BANK RAISES $143,000 FOR THE AMERICAN
HEART ASSOCIATION
First Bank employees raised more than $143,000 during the 2006 American
Heart Association’s Heart Walk campaign. The annual walk was held
in three locations: Forest Park in St. Louis, Frontier Park in St.
Charles, and Illinois American Water in Belleville, Ill. First Bank
employees walked in the event, sold hearts and collected donations.
The bank also contributed a company donation and served as a presenting
sponsor. More than 75 First Bank offices in Missouri and Illinois
participated in the event.
(Top
right; Left to right): Members of Girl Scout Troop
3151 in Ballwin and Chesterfield took part in the
2006 Heart Walk. From left, Tricia Whelan, parent
volunteer; Amanda Anstine, fifth grader; Jessica O’Brien,
fifth grader; Sarah Whelan, fifth grader; Laurie Stephenson,
troop leader; and First Bank’s Glenda Ricketson, parent
volunteer.
(Bottom left; Left to right): Glenda Ricketson,
First Bank Administrative Assistant, Human Resources;
First Bank St. Louis Regional President Joe Ambrose,
and Steve Walli, President of United HealthCare and
the 2006 St. Louis Metro Heart Walk Co-Chair for St.
Louis; stand with Angela Farrell, 2006 Heart Walk
Ambassador. |
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PROVIDENT EXPANDS DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS OFFICE
TO ACCOMMODATE CRISIS INTERVENTION HOTLINE
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Kathleen
E. Buescher, president and CEO for Provident.
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Provident, a provider of behavioral health and community services,
is expanding its headquarters and administrative offices in downtown
St. Louis to accommodate Life Crisis Services’ suicide and crisis
intervention telephone hotline. Life Crisis Services, which merged
with Provident in 2003, plans to move into its new home in October.
The 2,700-square-foot addition will include a new call center and
a larger modular conference facility to accommodate the more than
100 volunteers and staff who work the hotline annually.
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A
rendering of the Provident addition to house Life
Crisis Services’ suicide and crisis intervention hotline.
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Life Crisis Services operates a 24-hour, 365-day crisis hotline
(314/647-HELP) that answers more than 150 calls per day. It also
provides Missouri’s Gambling Helpline (888/BETSOFF) as well as support
groups for suicide survivors and training for social work students.
GEOTECHNOLOGY GROUP CELEBRATES SAFETY MILESTONE
Geotechnology’s Construction Materials Testing Group has reached
2,500 consecutive workdays with no loss-time accidents, maintaining
an excellent safety record for more than eight years. The testing
group performs drilled pier inspections, concrete tests, asphalt
tests, compaction tests on trench backfill, structural steel and
welding inspections, load tests, and tank and piping inspections.
“The management team is very proud of our field staff. We work hard,
often in dangerous environments—below ground, next to heavy equipment,
and high above ground on structural iron, to name a few. While we
consistently emphasize safe working practices, our field staff has
delivered on them,” states Steven Fults, the group’s manager.
UNITED WAY AND EITC COMMUNITY COALITION
HELP
LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS EARN INCOME TAX REFUNDS
Volunteers with United Way of Greater St. Louis and Gateway EITC
Community Coalition are helping local low-income residents earn
back money by filing for earned income tax credits from the IRS.
Between January and March of 2006, 148 volunteers helped 1,188 local
residents with incomes less than $35,500 prepare their taxes and
file for refunds from earned income tax credits.
The average 2005 income was $18,005, and the average refund from
the IRS with the credits was $1,087. National City was also on hand
to help individuals open bank accounts if they desired. Some residents
used the refunds to replace dilapidated refrigerators held together
by duct tape, while others put down money to buy homes.
“We still have a long way to go to help those who can claim EITC
on their tax returns in the region,” states Russ Signorino, vice
president of community information for United Way of Greater St.
Louis. “We had almost $1.3 million refunded through EITC this year,
of which $65 million was projected to go unclaimed in the St. Louis
region. This figure represents a substantial loss of revenue for
our community and lost income for low-wage workers.”
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES NAME
FOR NEW CAMPUS
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SLCC
newest campus, Wildwood, is expected to serve up to
2,500 students in the fall of 2007. |
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The name of St. Louis Community College’s newest campus will be
Wildwood, according to Chancellor Henry Shannon. The campus, located
near the intersection of Highway 109 and Manchester Road, is expected
to serve up to 2,500 students starting in the fall of 2007.
“The board carefully considered public, employee and student input
as well as factors such as the geographical location of the site,
history of the area, and topography,” states Dr. Dolores Gunn, president
of the board of trustees. “We look forward to strengthening relationships
and building partnerships that will further our role as a true college
for the community.”
The college chose the new name based on the results of a series
of surveys and public meetings that sought suggestions. The surveys
received more than 5,000 responses, and the top two vote getters
were Wildwood and Westwood. Several other names from the surveys
were also presented to the board for consideration. The Wildwood
campus will offer associate degree programs in general transfer
studies and business administration, as well as a 42-credit block
general education program.
STEREOTAXIS AND SIEMENS SIGN THREE-YEAR
COLLABORATION
Stereotaxis Inc. has signed a three-year extension to a joint development
agreement with Siemens Medical Solutions to continue their strategic
alliance and expand both companies’ product lines. One key element
of the collaboration is a technology trade-in program that would
help hospitals update older-generation cardiac catheterization laboratories
sooner than usual. By accelerating their normal replacement cycles,
hospitals would have access to potentially life-saving technology
created by the Siemens-Stereotaxis collaboration. The technology
facilitates access to precise magnetic navigation technology and
advanced imaging equipment used to visualize complex structures
within the heart and blood vessels.
“Our alliance with Stereotaxis has been an important piece of our
overall program to bring innovative solutions to the interventional
and electrophysiology cath lab. The extension of this agreement
will support Siemens’ position as a market leader in cardiology,”
states Norbert Gaus, president of the angiography, fluoroscopic
and radiographic systems division of Siemens Medical Solutions.
Stereotaxis designs, manufactures and markets an advanced cardiology
instrument control system to enhance the treatment of coronary artery
disease and arrhythmias. Siemens Medical Solutions provides imaging
equipment, health care information systems, management consulting
and support services to the health care industry around the world.
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