Business briefcase 5/2

CHARLESTON - Marcus Pittman of GH Home Furnishings was recently honored for exceptional achievement at the four-day Whirlpool Regional Technology Training Institute. The Institute included training sessions on all Whirlpool and Whirlpool-made laundry products.

The four eight-hour sessions required hands-on tear down and diagnostic techniques for the products. Training sessions were conducted by certified training instructors and Whirlpool product training specialists.

Pittman completed the technical training on direct drive automatic washers, Calypso washers and dryers, Catalyst washers and dryers, Duet washers and dryers, gas and electric dryers, auto-dry dryer controls and accu-dry dryer controls.

A diploma was presented to Pittman for completion of this training.

Driving course is completed

SIKESTON - Thomas Bean III of Sikeston has completed the four-week tractor-trailer driving course offered by Southern Missouri Truck Driving School.

Bean earned a 9.0 grade point average upon his completion of studies on March 5. Terry Harris served as his instructor.

NEW MADRID - The Western Nursery and Landscape Association has elected E.B. Gee II as president of the Western Nursery and Landscape and Association Board of Directors.

Gee and his wife, Melinda, own and operate Heartland Nursery Company, a bare root and container wholesale nursery located in New Madrid. The company is now in its 21st year.

A three-year graduate of the Furguson Business Management Institute associated with the University of Tulsa, Gee is an active member of the International Plant Propagators Society and past president of the Missouri Landscape and Nursery Association. He recently concluded a three-year term on the American Nursery and Landscape Association Horticulture Standards Committee.

In 1998, Gee was elected to serve as a board member of the American Nursery and Landscape Association Grower Services Division, Wholesale Nursery Growers of American Region IV Directors. In July 2002, Gee was elected president of the American Nursery and Landscape Association Growers Division Wholesale Nursery Growers of America.

Currently he is also serving on the American Nursery and Landscape Association Political Action Committee.

Gee's family has been extensively involved in Missouri agriculture since 1920. He and his wife have two sons, Everett and Barker.

NEW MADRID - Mike Barnes, superintendent of the New Madrid County R-1 School District, was recently honored for his service in education administration by the Missouri Association of School Administrators.

Barnes, who has served as Southeast Missouri's representative on the MASA executive committee for the past three years, was recognized for his 25 years of service as a public school administrator. This special recognition of his dedication to education was made during the awards banquet at the MASA Spring Conference at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach.

SIKESTON - State Farm Insurance Companies agent Joe Recker of Sikeston is Southeast Missouri's 2003 Agent of the Year for State Farm Insurance. The honor was announced recently by Agency Field Executive Mitch Shelby.

The Agent of the Year honor goes to the agent who consistently performs at the top level in numerous categories, including life insurance sales, health insurance sales, property/casualty insurance sales and conducting financial service interviews. The Southeast Missouri district for State Farm Insurance consists of 31 agents.

State Farm is the largest writer of auto and homeowners insurance in the United States, as well as being the largest multiple-line insurance company. Recker's office is located at 114 N. Ingram in Sikeston.

HAYTI - Arvle Morgan, package driver for UPS, was recently honored for completing 25 years of service with the company. Morgan, a resident of Portageville, works out of the UPS facility in Hayti.

UPS, the world's largest package distribution company, serves more than 200 countries and territories with a broad range of integrated ground and air express delivery options and customized logistics services.

LAKE OZARK - Michael Sansagraw, Scott County Farm Bureau insurance agent, was named "Top Membership Producer" by the Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. Sansagraw competed for the honor with more than 200 professional agents throughout the state.

Mike Weddle, East Missouri Regional director of agencies, made the presentation during the company's All Star Sales Conference.

In addition, Sansagraw was recognized for his membership in the Membership Pyramid and Brokerage P&C Pyramid Clubs.

SIKESTON - The Probation and Parole District Administrator Sharon Derrington is the Department's Employee of the Month for April. Ms. Derrington is assigned to the District 14 Probation and Parole Office in Sikeston and has been employed with the department for 20 years.

As the district administrator, Ms. Derrington is responsible for the operation of the district office. She supervises staff and ensures they have the necessary resources to manage offenders according to their risk to the community and their individual needs. She also is responsible for representing the district with the courts, law enforcement and the community.

Recently Ms. Derrington assumed the duties of the clerical supervisor in her office due to budget constraints. Because she has served in this dual capacity, she has ensured the overall success of office operations and set an example for her staff on taking extra responsibilities during difficult times, the department stated.