Awards |amp| Achievements

Advocacy

Roseann Bentley, former Missouri state senator, has joined the board of directors of Citizens for Missouri's Children, a statewide child advocacy organization. In its 20th year, Citizens for Missouri's Children is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan public interest organization that advocates for the rights and well-being for all Missouri's children, especially those with the greatest need.

Education

Marilyn Martin, director of the Management Development Institute at Southwest Missouri State University, returned from a two-week study tour in China. This tour was sponsored by Yohannan Abraham, director of international business programs for the SMSU College of Business Administration, and funded by a grant from the Business and International Education Program of the U.S. Department of Education to explore "big emerging markets." The purpose of the grant and study tour was to help internationalize SMSU faculty and staff, with potential impact on curriculum, students and the larger community by allowing participants to incorporate these experiences in professional and personal pursuits.

Tom Dapp, owner of New Horizons Computer Learning Center and Kinetics Web Development, was appointed to the advisory board of the Breech School of Business at Drury University.

Employer awards

Eric Reese was named 2003 Employee of the Year for Aire-Master of America at the company's June national conference in Branson. He serves as plant manager and has been recognized because of his loyalty and teamwork.

Kevin Montgomery was the first employee of the year for Chardonnay restaurant. The award will be presented annually. Montgomery has been with Chardonnay for nearly two years, and he has served in a variety of positions.

Finance

Union Planters Bank named Kristie Williams as a recipient of the 2003 UPBest award. Williams was chosen from the 2,500 employees in the Union Planters Midwest Banking Group, and is one of 25 recipients who was nominated by co-workers for exemplifying Union Planters' core values. Williams is a teller supervisor at Union Planters in Branson.

Roger A. Rekate,CPA, qualified for the AIG American General Agency Building Group's annual convention, which was held in June at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Hawaii. Attendance at the event is reserved for associates who have met stringent production requirements in a calendar year. In qualifying for the convention, Rekate was recognized as one of the company's most successful associates for 2002.

Insurance

The Missouri Association of Insurance Agents named Jo Ann Evans, CIC, vice president of Beimdiek Insurance Agency in Carthage, Insurance Person of the Year. The award is MAIA's highest honor, presented to the individual who has most significantly contributed to the American Agency System and to the citizens of Missouri. Evans serves on the Associated Industries of Missouri Advisory Council and the Missouri Department of Insurance Consumer Advisory Committee.