CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES & RESERVATIONS

A Message from NCI President/CEO, Rebecca Zoll

Rebecca Zoll

On May 13, 2011 I would like to invite each of you to come out and help NCI honor those chosen to be one of this year’s business development, community development, public service, special recognition, and leadership. A big thanks to all who served on the awards committee; they had their work cut out for them choosing from so many great candidates.  Their time and dedication to this process was greatly appreciated. The 2011 award recipients will be honored at NCI’s 34th Annual Breakfast on Friday, May 13, 2011, at 7:30 a.m. at the St. Louis Airport Marriott. This year’s presenting sponsors are HDR Engineering and SSM DePaul Health Center. The public is encouraged to attend and tickets are only $37.50 per person. Generous sponsorship packages are still available. Reservations are required; please call NCI at 895-6241 or go to www.NorthStLouisCounty.com.

This year we will celebrate the work and dedication of these worthy award recipients:

Business Development Award Recipients will be:

• Mike Lonero, President of the Ferguson Special Business Dist. and owner of CORK Wine Bar and Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant
• Paul Cerame Auto Group, Ford, Lincoln, & Kia
• SSM Rehabilitation Hospital/SSM Medical Partnership

Community Development Award Recipients will be:

• Beyond Housing, 24:1 Initiative
• Carolyne Simpson, Business Development Officer with St. John’s Bank & Trust
• Chief William Karabas, City of Florissant’s Police Department
• Chief Carl Wolf, City of Hazelwood’s Police Department

Elmer Belsha Leadership Award Recipient will be:

• Diana Weidinger, retired president of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce and past Executive Board and Board member for NCI

Public Service Award Recipients will be:

• Mayor Jack Agnew, City of Dellwood
• Senator Tim Green, State of Missouri
• Mayor Robert Lowery, City of Florissant
• Mayor Marty Rudloff, City of Bellefontaine Neighbors
• Jeff Spiegel, Superintendent of the Ferguson-Florissant School District

Special Recognition Awards:

• Bonnie Barczykowski, Owner of Curves
• Vickie Wade, Vice-President of Clinical Services for Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers

It is not too late to join these sponsors in support of this North County wide celebration of success, volunteerism and commitment to the community. To join these businesses, local governments and organizations in showing your pride for the communities you live and/or work in, consider becoming a sponsor! Go to www.NorthStLouisCounty.com or call (314) 895-6241.

Presenting Sponsors:

Corporate A/V Presentation Sponsors:

ManorCare Health Services
Lindenwood University

Corporate Sponsors:

Bommarito of Hazelwood, Nissan, Honda, Volkswagen & Ford
Commerce Bank
Favazza & Associates, LLC
IESI Solid Waste Services
North County Suburban Journals
Paul Cerame Ford, Lincoln, & Kia
St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley
St. Louis County
St. Louis County Economic Council
U.S. Bank

Supporting Sponsors:

Christian Hospital, City of Ferguson, Emerson, Ferguson-Florissant School District, Florissant License Office, Independent News, Kent Miller Photography, Pattonville School District, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, Public Policy Research Center, Serenity Women’s HealthCare, St. Louis Airport Marriott, Trinity Catholic High School and the University of Missouri – St. Louis

"I would like to publically thank North County Inc, and its President Rebecca Zoll for their support for the study of I-270 from McDonnell Boulevard to east of Route 367. North County Inc. has been a vital partner in pursuing the I-270 Study that is finally getting underway. Rebecca along with Mark Tranel has taken advantage of every opportunity to make the need for the study known. They have contacted East-West Gateway Council of Governments staff and board. Mark made a presentation to the Highways and Transportation Commission in December. Rebecca has kept the issue in front of me and district management for over two years. The Transportation Committee made the study their only priority for the past three years. Rebecca has been intimately involved as MoDOT has developed the scope and schedule for the study. NCI will be involved in helping us to keep the community involved throughout the study and assist us in identifying the needs in the corridor. Studies like this do not get started without strong support from the community. Rebecca and North County Inc. has led the community support for this study." Lawrence Welty, P.E. Area Engineer - North MoDOT - St. Louis Metro District

For more than three year’s NCI had been an advocate for the prioritization of and funding for an I-270 Corridor Transportation Study. I am excited to announce that the Missouri Department of Transportation has now started on this important study in the North County community. I want to thank NCI past board chair Dr. Mark Tranel with the Public Policy Research Center for his help the past three years and his continued assistance moving this initiative forward. His commitment and persistence through this process has been amazing. I also commend MoDOT’s Ed Hassinger, Bill Schnell and Larry Welty, as well as the Missouri Transportation Commissioners for listening to NCI’s concerns. These concerns include access, safety, and problems with major intersections and outer roads, which has been a factor in attracting appropriate economic development along this major transportation corridor. Larry has met with NCI consistently over the past few years to explore ways to bring this study to fruition. We look forward to our partnership with MoDOT throughout the study and eventual improvements. A nod also to NCI members St. Louis County’s Gus Heck and John Hicks and HDR Engineering’s Barry Rolle who have worked with NCI throughout these past years on this advocacy effort.

Now the hard work really begins and NCI and MoDOT want to hear from you! Your input during this study process is very important to the success of this study and eventual improvements along this corridor. I encourage you to please participate in a public meeting being hosted by MoDOT on the Interstate 270 Corridor Study. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 14th from 4 – 7 p.m. at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. Thanks goes to SLCC-Florissant Valley and NCI board member Dr. Marcia Pfeiffer for providing space for this meeting. For details, please CLICK HERE [PDF]

It is not too late to participate in the NCI sponsored event, the City of Ferguson’s “LiveWell Walk/Run” on May 14th, to find out more and register to participate please visit www.livewellferg5k.com. This event benefits NCI member Emerson YMCA’s summer camp program. Please get involved if you can.

I’d like to say A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to:

• NCI board member Ron McMullen and Christian Hospital for being ranked as the 4th Best Hospital in St. Louis by U.S. News & World Report. These important new rankings are published online at www.usnews.com/hospitals. Christian Hospital is cited as a high performer in six specialty areas: Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Kidney Disorders, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pulmonology and Urology.
  
  
• Other good news for Christian is the exciting opening of their newest addition, a brand new state-of-the-art Medical Office Building on the Northwest HealthCare campus. There will be an Open House and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, April 13th from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the new. For more details, please CLICK HERE [PDF].
  
  
• NCI Board members: Florissant’s Mayor Robert G. Lowery, St. Louis Community College’s Dr. Marcia Pfeiffer, past NCI board member Andrea Jackson-Jennings from St. Louis County, as well as NCI member’s Hazelwood Police Dept.’s Chief Carl Wolf and Ferguson-Florissant School District’s Shantana T. Stewart for being chosen by the North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice (NCCU) as outstanding leaders in the community. They will be honored with awards at the NCCU’s 7th Annual Awards Dinner on April 10th at 4 p.m. For more details, pleaseCLICK HERE [PDF]
  
  
• NCI member SSM Health Center on being named one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s “Best Places To Work” and for being named the 5th Best Hospital in St. Louis by U.S. News & World Report.
  
  
• NCI’s newest municipal member the City of Overland on exciting news this week; 350 new, local jobs will be created when the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s National Operations Center opens in the Charles F. Prevedel Federal Building. This new facility will reuse an existing military facility transitioning (previously the National Records Center on Page Ave.) as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure plan; and help stimulate the area economy. I was pleased to attend this announcement made by Senator Roy D. Blunt, Congressman Lacy Clay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, Mayor Mike Schneider, Jason Klumb with the GSA, Dr. Jon Hagler with the State of Missouri, and Tom Vilsack with the US Department of Agriculture at the announcement and ribbon-cutting on March 28.
  
  
• Happy Anniversary to NCI member the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce! They are celebrating their 35th Anniversary in 2011. Kim Braddy, Executive Director for the MHCC is one of NCI’s newest board members.

Welcome New Members

Jackson’s Lawn Care Services
Maurice Jackson
314-650-4496
www.jacksonslawncareservice.com

Federation of Catholic Schools in the Northeast Deanery
Cara Koen, Director of Advancement
10235 Ashbrook Drive
St. Louis, MO 63137
314-537-3174
northcountycatholicschools@gmail.com

President/CEO

North County Inc. is partnering with the Missouri Department of Transportation on a public meeting concerning the Interstate 270 Corridor Study on Thursday, April 14th from 4 – 7 p.m. at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. For details, please CLICK HERE [PDF]