Chamber honors Sikeston leaders at annual banquet

Alan Keenan speaks after receiving the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award during the Sikeston Regional Chamber Banquet Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Sikeston Municipal Airport.

Gina Williams/Standard Democrat

SIKESTON — Sikeston leaders were honored during the Sikeston Regional Chamber’s annual awards banquet.

The event, which was Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Sikeston Municipal Airport for the third consecutive year, drew a big crowd as emerging leaders and those honored for a lifetime of work were recognized.

Alan Keenan was honored with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the growth and success of Sikeston over the past decades.

Keenan grew up in Sikeston, raised his family here, and he owns and operates one of Sikeston’s largest employers, Alan Wire.

He was the mayor of Sikeston and a member of the city council for many years. He is a member of the Sikeston Jaycees, and he has served as rodeo chairman and on the hospital board. He was also a vital player in the establishment of the YMCA of Southeast Missouri in Sikeston. 

Keenan was recently involved in the purchase and renovation of several downtown buildings, assisting in the revitalization and promotion of Sikeston’s historic downtown. 

He built the program, NextStep, at his company which allows high school students to work there, earning money and gaining real-life experience.

His company, which he founded in his garage one summer while attending college, has grown to employ over 450 people and spans about 1 million square feet with two plants in Sikeston. 

Upon receiving the award, Keenan expressed his gratitude to his wife, Debbie, for her assistance and support. Although receiving the lifetime achievement award for his involvement in the community, Keenan said he and his wife consider their greatest achievement in life to be their two sons.

Citizen of the Year

Shannon Holifield, superintendent of Sikeston R-6 schools, was named the 2023 Citizen of the Year. 

Holifield is an involved member of the community, sitting on both the Chamber and Department of Economic Development Board of Directors.

Shannon Holifield, superintendent of Sikeston R-6 School District, delivers a passionate speech after receiving the 2023 Citizen of the Year Award during the Sikeston Regional Chamber Banquet.

With over 30 years’ experience in the world of education, she has served as a classroom teacher, coach, principal and assistant superintendent before beginning her current role as superintendent of Sikeston Public Schools. In her current position, she has been instrumental in instilling “Bulldog pride” in the community and always leads by example.

“Shannon is known for being a true team player and never hesitates to collaborate with others to come up with creative and innovative ideas for the school system. Her heart for the community and especially for the students makes her an outstanding recipient,” said the 2022 Citizen of the Year Felecia Blanton.

Shannon Holifield, superintendent of Sikeston R-6 School District, and Marcie Lawson, CEO of the Sikeston Regional Chamber, share a heartfelt hug at the 2023 Sikeston Regional Chamber banquet Thursday night, Oct. 19, as Holifield receives the 2023 Citizen of the Year award.

Holifield said she will do everything she can to make Sikeston Public Schools and the community the greatest in Missouri. 

“I believe with all my heart that this community has something that is special that other communities don’t have,” Holifield said. “I am so thankful for our legislators who have poured money into this community. I’m so thankful to live in this community, and remember, on Fridays, we wear red and black.”

Emerging Leader

Sikeston Regional Chamber this year got to award one of their own, Katie Merideth, as the 2023 Emerging Leader.

Katie Merideth, left, poses with Taylor Deere at the Sikeston Regional Chamber Banquet Thursday, Oct. 19. Merideth, who is the Sikeston Regional Chamber’s administrator and S.O.A.R. director, received the 2023 Emerging Leader Award.

Merideth is a lifelong member of the Sikeston community, with her leadership skills beginning as early as high school, where she served as Cayenne of the Sikeston Red Peppers.

Merideth served as co-chair of the Better Schools for Better Communities Committee, successfully passing a bond issue for a new Lee Hunter Elementary and C Building/Bulldog Hall on the high school campus.

Educator of the Year

This year’s Educator of Year  is Renee Asher.

Asher has established herself as a building leader at Sikeston Junior High. She rarely misses school and is always working hard. She makes a point to know her students by name, greets them at the door and supports them by attending extracurricular activities such as sports and concerts. 

“She is dedicated to her students and their learning and is always working to improve her curriculum to give the students the best education,” said Kari Hartlein, last year’s Educator of the Year. 

SRC Volunteer

Betsy McConnell was the winner of the 2023 SRC Volunteer of the Year award. 

She was involved in several organizations and activities throughout high school and college and showed an early interest in helping. That passion expanded as she returned to Sikeston and became involved in a variety of local groups, including the Rotary Club, the YMCA board and the Sikeston Regional Chamber.

“She is not looking for recognition; rather, she is a natural leader who has shown she enjoys being involved,” said Mandy Leible, winner of the 2022 SRC Volunteer of the Year award.

Civic Group of the Year

Hope 180 is the Civic Group of the Year in 2023. 

The group has made substantial contributions to the community. This group of women envisioned a safe space for children to engage with trusted adults who could serve as steady role models.

Hope 180 began gathering folks who were most linked to the children in the region a few years ago and dreamed about how to truly support the full child beyond tutoring or extra meals. 

Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Det. Benjamin Quick is the 2023 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. 

According to Joshua Schuenemeyer, the 2022 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Quick began his career with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety in 2011 and advanced to the rank of detective in 2018. 

“He always followed through with every investigation all the way until the very end of each detail,” said Schuenemeyer. “He’s the most knowledgeable in Southeast Missouri for criminal street gangs and violent offenders. In 2020, he accepted a new role as a narcotics detective at Sikeston DPS. He has been making and assisting other agencies in numerous cases involving undercover agents and confidential informants in many aspects, making drug cases in all of Southeast Missouri and beyond, with tremendous results.”

Quick routinely works closely with all local departments, including the DEA, SEMO Drug Task Force, ATF and FBI. 

“Det. Quick is a ‘team player’ and is always willing to assist the other detectives and officers from all over the Midwest,” Schuenemeyer said. “There is not a major investigation at Sikeston DPS that he is not playing a major investigative role.”

Jaycee Distinguished Service Award

Jeremiah Quick is the 2023 winner of the Jaycee Distinguished Service award. 

Sikeston Jaycee Jeremiah Quick, winner of 2023 Jaycee Distinguished Service Award, poses with Taylor Deere, Sikeston Regional Chamber’s membership and program director, Thursday Oct. 19 at the Sikeston Regional Chamber Banquet.

Quick has served in many different leadership roles within the club, including the executive board for three years, chaired the Sikeston Jaycee Crawfish Boil and was president of the rodeo board.

“Jeremiah Quick has received two of the highest honors in our organization: the Officer of the Year and the Shiny Boots award,” said Travis Deere, the 2022 winner of the award.

In 2021, Quick served as chairman of the rodeo, and the rodeo achieved an 84% overall sellout rate that year, which was the highest in our organization’s history at the time. 

“It was also under his leadership as rodeo chairman that our rodeo received Footing of the Year and Large Rodeo of the Year awards on the Great Lake Rodeo Circuit,” Deere said.

Small Business of the Year

Sterling Pharmacy was the winner of the 2023 Small Business of the Year award.

Beth Johnson of Mitchell Insurance, who won the award in 2022, said Sterling Pharmacy is an active participant in many community events such as Light Up Sikeston, Stampede Week and the Sikeaston High School Tailgate. 

“You will often see them walking in parades, ringing bells for the Salvation Army and participating in the Bulldog Backpacks program,” Johnson said. “They give back to the community with their support of countless events, including chamber functions, the Kenny Rogers telethon and their support of little league teams.”

Ross Merideth of Sterling Pharmacy said they were honored to be the recipients of the award. 

“All the credit goes to the staff; we have such a great group of people here,” Merideth said. “Thank you all so much for what you’ve done and for making this place what it is.”

Business of the Year

GoSEMO Fiber was the winner of the 2023 Business of the Year award.

Lloyd Rice of GoSEMO Fiber poses with Taylor Deere, Sikeston Regional Chamber’s membership and program director, Thursday Oct. 19 at the Sikeston Regional Chamber Banquet. GoSEMO Fiber was the winner of the 2023 Business of the Year award.

GoSEMO Fiber is the local broadband service provider that brought high speed fiber internet to the region and is involved in the community by hosting Board of Realtors luncheons and attending trunk-or-treat events.

 “On behalf of the entire GoSEMO and SEMO Electric Cooperative, thanks so much for the recognition,” said Lloyd Rice of GoSEMO Fiber. “To get a chance to be involved in the Sikeston community and the greater Sikeston area at large, we certainly appreciate it.”