Business News

Roger Austin was recently named as Simmons First National Bank’s new Sedalia community president.

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Jonathan Gipson sits atop his royal blue Roadmaster Supreme bicycle, surrounded by fellow creative forces who comprise Borrowed Time Customs. Gipson’s ride is original, except the seat, handlebars, wheels, crank and sprocket, which have been upgraded and updated.

Pettis County continues to lead the way out of the economic turmoil of the last few years, with higher growth and lower unemployment than most Missouri communities.

Heather Dickman Fenton, of Sedalia, was recently named the Top Territory Manager for 2012 for Masland Carpets. The Smith-Cotton graduate is a territorial manager whose area covers Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.

Cliff Callis, President of Callis Integrated Marketing, contributed a chapter to the recently released book, “Secrets of Ad Agency Owners: Our Best Marketing Advice.”

March 1

Callis Integrated Marketing has launched an expanded web site (ecallis.com) with mobile optimization designed to educate current and prospective clients about Callis’ capabilities.

Sedalia Democrat journalists captured five first-place honors and nine awards in total in the Missouri Associated Press Media Editors newspaper awards for work published in 2012.

Democrat staff

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A Chinese business owner and his employee pleaded guilty and were sentenced in federal court Friday for conspiring to steal trade secrets from Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, which has a plant in Sedalia.

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Bo Espinosa loves coffee, and he wanted to get out of the construction business. The gift of an espresso machine has allowed him to turn his passion into his profession.

Jan. 2

Longtime downtown business owners Dianne and Howard Pilant saw an opportunity and an opening when their rental property kept losing its tenants.

OATS driver David Tagtmeyer, of Sedalia, was recently honored as the recipient of the annual 2012 Safe Driver Award for the Midwest Missouri region. Tagtmeyer was selected to receive the award based on his exemplary commitment to safe driving and outstanding customer service. Tagtmeyer has been driving for OATS since 2000.

Dec. 3

Ken Weymuth, owner of W-K Chevrolet, recently was honored for his 25 years as a GM dealer. From left are Dan Detmer, district sales manager for Chevrolet; Weymuth; and Rikk Wilde, zone manager for Chevrolet.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America has awarded Dr. George R. Thompson III, a faculty member of the University of California-Davis Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and a 1995 Smith-Cotton High School graduate, the 2012 Program Committee Choice Award for his work on invasion of the central nervous system by Cryptococcus spp.

Jeff and Brenda Tucker, from Crown Power & Equipment Co. LLC in La Monte, attended Kubota Tractor Corporation’s 2012 National Dealer Meeting in Dallas to celebrate Kubota’s 40th anniversary in the United States.

Bothwell Regional Health Center Registered Nurse Kathy Ernst has earned her recertification as a Neuroscience Registered Nurse through the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing.

trio attends financial meeting

Care Connection for Aging Services, based in Warrensburg, had been awarded a $144,375 grant to fund a Retired Senior Volunteer Program in five of the 13 counties it serves. The program will focus on Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory and St. Clair counties.

Chris Wickern, of Sedalia, center, received the Surveyor of the Year award during the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors annual conference

Brandon Butler has joined Callis & Associates as director of outdoor markets. In this role, Butler is focusing on business development and account management.

Nov. 1