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Gregory A. Steinhoff, Director of the Missouri
Department of Economic Development addressed
a sold-out crowd at North County Incorporated's
(NCI) 28th Annual Breakfast, sponsored by
SSM DePaul Health Center. Steinhoff was well
received as he outlined plans for future State
initiatives for business growth.
NCI President Howard Nimmons, CPA, CFP welcomed
a sold-out crowd, saying, "The North County
leadership is working more closely together
than ever before, and this is reflected in
the economic successes we've seen this past
year. It is also reflected here today as political,
municipal, business, service and civic leaders
come together to help NCI celebrate 28 years
of service to this great community. The cooperation
of those represented here today will continue
to be the reason that North County and North
County Incorporated thrive."
NCI's Board of Directors honored several
area leaders at this year's annual membership
meeting. NCI board member and award committee
chair Brenda Bobo-Fisher presented each honoree
with their award.
 Rosemary
Davison, local historian and NCI member, received
the prestigious Elmer Belsha Leadership Award,
which annually is presented to individuals
whose long-term commitment to the North County
region and North County Incorporated has had
a positive impact. For the past forty-five
years Davison has been committed to serving
the community, her heart lies in the past,
as in preserving historically significant
homes and buildings that helped shape the
City of Florissant. She was a founding member
and Past President of the Florissant Valley
Historical Society, Friends of Old St. Ferdinand,
Historic Florissant, Inc., and Florissant
Old Town Partners. Throughout the years, she
has donated her services to the Florissant
Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Foundation,
East-West Gateway Preservation Task Force,
the St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission,
and North County Churches United for Racial
Harmony and Justice and many other deserving
organizations. Davison has received the President's
Award National Trust for Historic Preservation,
the Distinguished Service Award from Landmarks
of St. Louis, the What's Right with the Region
Award from Focus St. Louis, and the Commerce
Bank and Kemper Foundation Community Service
Award, two Governor's Leadership awards, and
the Rozier Award from the Missouri Alliance
for Historic Preservation. She has written
two books on the area's history, and she is
a columnist for the North County Journal.
 NCI's
Business Development Awards are presented
to individuals or organizations whose efforts
go above their normal duties and positively
effect the economic development and business
climate of the North County region. Alberici
Constructors and Patrick McKeehan, C.Ec.D.,
Project Director, Ford Hazelwood Task Force
each received this honor.
Alberici Constructors in 2004 choose to relocate
their world headquarters to Overland, investing
nearly $21 million dollars in the renovation
of an abandoned metal fabrication facility.
They converted this 50-year-old derelict property
into Class A office space and did so in an
environmentally responsible way. The new headquarters
has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design certification as a model of sustainable
design and construction. This visionary building
model goes far beyond the typical reuse of
property. Due to Alberici's foresight, they
diverted more than 90 percent of construction
and demolition waste from landfills, and they
created a space for an outdoor courtyard for
their employees. A special glass window and
glazing system produces open, sun-lit office
space. A multi-level, indoor parking structure
decreases the need for additional land to
be turned into parking lots that create a
heat island effect. Native plantings eliminate
the need for an irrigation system. Walking
trails and an interpretive wetlands boardwalk
give employees and visitors to the property
an opportunity to learn about nature. Rainwater
is collected, treated, and used for sewage
conveyance, saving nearly 150,000 gallons
of water per year. Soon a wind turbine will
generate 20 percent of the building's electrical
needs. Alberici is seeking Platinum certification,
which is the highest level awarded by the
US Green Building Council.
Patrick McKeehan is the Project Director
of the Ford Hazelwood Task Force and a Certified
Economic Developer. He serves on NCI's Economic
Development Committee and is a past Executive
Board member. McKeehan is responsible for
assisting in the retention and/or creation
of more than 2,100 jobs and $1.2 billion in
new capital investment in North County. During
this year's session, he helped develop and
lobby for legislation, which enables our North
County communities to institute a local economic
development sales tax. Recently McKeehan negotiated
an agreement between six North County communities
and the County to establish a new North St.
Louis County Enterprise Zone. He designed
and launched a $10 million Department of Defense
contract to develop a network of women/minority-owned
suppliers. He organized efforts to create
the State's web-based "MissouriLocationOne"
community/building and sites inventory, and
championed a local project that has allowed
NCI to place profile information on all 47
North County communities into the system.
Patrick also is involved with the Northwest
Communities Chamber of Commerce's Economic
Development Committee, and the Missouri Legislature's
Blue Ribbon Panel on Economic Development
Policy and Planning. The Missouri Economic
Development Council named him Economic Development
Professional of the Year in 2004.
NCI's Community Development Awards are presented
to individuals or organizations whose efforts
go above their normal duties and positively
benefit youth, residents, civic organizations,
or others through selfless acts. Lillian Eunice,
City Administrator, City of Northwoods, and
Reverend Tommie Pierson, President of Metropolitan
Congregations United, were 2005's Community
Development Award recipients.
For years, Lillian Eunice has positively
benefited youth, senior adults, community
civic organizations, and residents in North
County. Eunice is the current City Administrator
of Northwoods, and in the past served on NCI's
Board of Directors. She promotes the philosophy
that communities and youth will both benefit
if youth learn more about the responsibilities
of municipal government. Toward this goal,
Eunice developed the Northwoods Court Page
Program that enables high school youth and
young adults to assist the municipal judge
and court. She developed the Tech Connect
Project where Normandy High School students
gained community service credits for developing
the City of Northwoods' website. The project
fostered a partnership with the City, Normandy
School District, and the University of Missouri
Extension to allow youth to learn about web
development, data gathering, and journalism.
On behalf of residents, she has helped secure
funding for local parks, as well as a North
County Cardinals Care baseball field. Eunice
is an active board member for the Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services and
for Mid-County Partners for Progress. She
is a consumer protection advocate for older
adults and persons with disabilities. She
has served on boards for the St. Louis Regional
Empowerment Zone. She has received the SBC
Workforce Diversity Award and the Older Women's
League's "Woman of Worth" award.
Reverend Tommie Pierson was recognized for
his positive presence in our community. Recently,
in his role as President of Metropolitan Congregations
United, Pierson has taken a leadership role
in fighting the closing of the Bellefontaine
Habilitation Center and Medicaid cuts in the
State of Missouri. He is the pastor of Greater
St. Mark's Family Church. Pierson served as
the Past President of the Board for Riverview
Gardens School District, and he is a member
of the North County Labor Legislative Club,
Churches United for Community Action, St.
Louis Clergy Coalition, Interfaith Partnership
of St. Louis, and the St. Ferdinand Democratic
Club.
Dr. Hugh Kinney, Superintendent of Pattonville
School District, Carl Wolf, Hazelwood Police
Chief, John Londoff, Sr., Owner of Johnny
Londoff Chevrolet, and G. Joe Schulte each
received a 2005 Special Recognition Award
for their dedication and commitment to the
North County area through their jobs, as well
as their long-standing involvement with civic
and charitable organizations.
Dr. Hugh Kinney, Superintendent of Pattonville
School District has dedicated his career to
youth and education. He has served as Chairperson
for the Cooperating School Districts and School
Night for Scouting in St. Louis County, as
President of the Greater St. Louis District
of Missouri Association of School Administrators,
and he is on the Board of Directors of the
Metropolitan Vocational-Technical Cooperative.
His civic service is as extensive as his service
to education and youth. He is an active member
of the Northwest Communities Chamber of Commerce,
and he has served as Facilities Chair for
the Edward Jones YMCA. Kinney was named Missouri
School Administrator of the Year by the Missouri
School Public Relations Association.
Chief Carl Wolf's law enforcement career
has spanned over 35 years. He has been the
Chief of Police for the City of Hazelwood
for 19 years. Wolf serves as a Commissioner
of the Greater St. Louis Regional Justice
Information System, chairs the North County
Drug Task Force, and asTreasurer of the International
Association of Chiefs of Police. He also serves
on the Board of Directors of the Greater St.
Louis Area Major Case Squad and numerous other
career related organizations. The Missouri
Police Chiefs Association has recognized him
as an "Outstanding Police Chief." His civic
involvement is extensive. Carl is a member
and Past president of the Florissant Valley
Kiwanis Club, and serves as a board member
and Past president of the Northwest Communities
Chamber of Commerce and the Emerson Family
YMCA. He is the current President of the Board
of Directors of Valley Industries Sheltered
Workshop, and a member of the VFW Post 6368
and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter
794. He has received the Navy Air Medal with
First Strike Flight Award.
John Londoff, Sr., Chairman and CEO of Johnny
Londoff Chevrolet, is no doubt one of North
County's most recognized business owners.
In 1983, he even received Time Magazine's
top automobile dealer in the country award.
However, his reputation as one of the areas
leading citizens is based upon his fundraising
efforts for disabled and disadvantaged children.
During his tenure as Chairman of the annual
St. Louis Variety Club, he raised more than
$40 million dollars for children's charities.
He has also raised more than $1 million for
St. Louis Children's Hospital and been given
their "Heart of Gold" award. Forty-three years
ago, he established a scholarship foundation
for North County High School students, and
since that time more than 600 scholarships
have benefited area youth. The St. Louis County
Police have also recognized Londoff for his
continued support of the North County precinct.
He is a long time member and supporter of
NCI.
G. Joe Schulte is a long time
resident of the area and a Past president
of NCI. Throughout the years, he has given
generously of his time to the community. His
service to the cities he has lived in includes
being a council member for the City of Black
Jack and presently serving as Chair of the
Florissant Landmark and Historic District.
His service extends beyond municipal participation
to many of the area civic organizations, where
he served as Treasurer of the Florissant Rotary
Club and Secretary of the Florissant Valley
Chamber of Commerce, and is on the Board of
Old Town Partners. Schulte gives numerous
hours of his time to St. Vincent's Home and
the TEAM Food Pantry. As a Rotarian, he assists
each year with a fishing expedition for disabled
children. In addition, never let it be said
that Joe is not handy with a hammer, as whenever
or wherever a charitable need arises, he arrives
hammer in hand and ready to help.
NCI's 28th Annual Breakfast was made possible
by our generous sponsors: SSM DePaul Health
Center, Christian Hospital, Commerce Bank,
Johnny Londoff Chevrolet, McEagle Properties,
LLC, Negwer Materials, Inc., North County
Journals, U.S. Bank, Village Square Management,
Alberici Constructors, Ameren, City of Berkeley,
City of Ferguson, Coldwell Banker Gundaker,
Commercial Bank, Delmar Gardens/Garden Villas
North, Emerson, Ferguson-Florissant School
District, Girardier Building & Realty, HDR
Engineering, Inc., Hair Benders, Handyman
True Value, Hazelwood School District, Incarnate
Word Academy, Jamestown Mall, Lutheran High
School North, North County School/Business
Partnership, Pattonville School District,
Paul Cerame Ford/Lincoln-Mercury, People's
Health Centers, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local
562, Riverview Gardens School District, Sandie's
Interiors, Serenity Women's Healthcare, Inc.,
St. Louis Community College at Florissant
Valley, St. Louis County Economic Council,
St. Louis Mills, Trinity Catholic High School,
University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Winschel
Carpet Service, Inc.
North County Incorporated is a regional development
organization, which acts as a catalyst to
define and advocate economic and community
development for North St. Louis County. NCI
was established in 1977. The Board of NCI
is composed of community leaders and business
owners. Howard Nimmons, CPA, CFP is the current
president.
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