People In Business

Andrea N. Schrader joined the law firm of Alton-based MillerKing LLC as an attorney on Jan. 1. She concentrates and focuses her practice in the area of family law and has 13 years of experience.  Before joining MillerKing, Schrader served the community of Southern Illinois as a staff attorney for Land of Lincoln Legal Aid.…

Gary D. Hemmer, president and CEO of First Waterloo Bancshares Inc., announced this week the completion of the acquisition of Best Hometown Bancorp Inc., the parent company of Best Hometown Bank. The bank has two banking centers serving Madison County in Collinsville and Maryville. “This expands our organization into Madison County,” said Hemmer. “Best Hometown…

The Edwardsville-based Gori Law Firm says two of the firm’s partners, Chris Layloff and Jason Steinmeyer, have been honored for obtaining the highest reported asbestos verdict in the state of Missouri for 2019,  according to Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. Layloff and Steinmeyer obtained an $8.433 million verdict against the Ford Motor Co. for their clients, Al…

PHOTO: Anderson Hospital President and CEO Keith Page accepts the Business of the Year Award on Tuesday morning. IBJ photo By DENNIS GRUBAUGH The newly named Business of the Year in Edwardsville has multi-million-dollar plans for expanding its local presence, its chief executive officer said Tuesday. In accepting the award during the sixth Annual Business…

Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. announced that the firm’s attorneys Courtney A. Adair, Cassie L. Barr, Jody B. Forsee, and Heather M. Mehta have been elevated to officer, effective Feb. 1. Adair works from the firm’s Chicago office. Barr, Forsee, and Mehta are based in Greensfelder’s St. Louis office. “We are extremely proud to welcome…

Explore St. Louis has announced the hiring of Barry Draper as the director of partnership. In his new role, Draper will direct and coordinate activities of the partnership department, which encompasses partnership sales, events, and development activities. Before joining Explore St. Louis, he served as partnership manager for the DuPage County Convention & Visitors Bureau.…

Alton Main Street has welcomed four new members to its board of directors. Damian Jones, Roger Lewis, Chris Miller and Michael Snider were named effective in 2020. Antione Williams has accepted the role of president for the coming year. They will help chart the course of how the Downtown Alton district develops. Residents, business owners,…

Foundation Fighting Blindness to recognize pair from Edwardsville, others The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit focused on finding preventions, treatments and cures for retinal diseases, presents the 11th Annual St. Louis Dining in the Dark Visionary Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The unique fundraiser will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Guests…

City of Edwardsville Economic and Community Development Director Walt Williams has been named Ambassador of the Year by the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce. The recognition acknowledges some 50 hours of volunteer service Williams devoted to the organization throughout 2019. Williams has served as an ambassador for the chamber since November 2015. Chamber Membership Director…

St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern has appointed Terry Beach to represent St. Clair County on the Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners. Beach will serve the remainder of Michael Buehlhorn’s term which expires in January 2021. Buehlhorn resigned his position after serving nearly nine years in various capacities on the board, most recently as…