People In Business

Helmkamp Construction Co. has announced the appointment of Austin Cichon as safety director of the company. With this strategic hire, Helmkamp continues its dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards across all its projects and client markets. As safety director, Cichon will be responsible for overseeing and enhancing safety protocols, implementing best practices, and ensuring…

It’s no secret that chronic stress can be linked to serious health conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and anxiety. However, stress can also be linked to everyday skin concerns. April is Stress Awareness Month and Dr. Kristen M. Jacobs, owner and founder of Ooh La La Spa Anti-Aging & Wellness, is…

Chad Brigham of Rex Encore LLC, John and Jayne Simmons’ Alton-based private equity investment firm, was recognized with a 2024 Corporate Counsel Award by the St. Louis Business Journal. The awards ceremony was held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at the Marriott St. Louis West where it honored 10 area attorneys who have helped their organizations grow.…

East Alton School District 13 has selected Nancy Werden to take over as its district superintendent, effective July 1, 2024. She will assume the responsibilities currently carried out by the district’s interim superintendent, Monty Aldrich. Werden was named as the new superintendent of East Alton School District 13 at the district’s recent board meeting. Her…

S. M. Wilson & Co., a St. Louis-based construction management and general contracting firm, has promoted Rebecca Reifel to project manager and Kyle Gustafson to assistant project manager. Reifel, who recently served as an assistant project manager, joined the company in 2021 and has worked on several projects, including her current project with the Columbia…

  Since November, five individual Southern Illinois University Edwardsville staff members and three SIUE University Housing programs have been recognized as Of The Month (OTM) regional award winners. OTMs are campus nominated awards that are voted on across the country by the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH). NRHH is the recognition branch of the National…

  After an evening of ceremony, two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni and a legendary SIUE coach were inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. The non-profit organization celebrates the history of sports in the St. Louis region. Dewayne Staats, ’75, current announcer for the Tampa Rays baseball team; John Simmons, ’91, philanthropist,…

The newest sergeant on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus police force is SIUE alumnus Kasey Hoyd. Hoyd was promoted from detective to sergeant of the 45-member SIUE Police Department on Feb. 16. He is the first African American to hold the position on the SIUE campus. Upon receiving word of the promotion from the role of…

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Amy Kief, MSN, RN, instructor in Family Health and Community Health Nursing, SIUE School of Nursing (SON), is one of 50 nurses nominated for this year’s St. Louis Magazine Excellence in Nursing Awards, presented by BJC HealthCare and Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing. Excellence in Nursing is supported by Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing.…

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Human Resources department welcomes Ed Travis as Total Rewards-Benefits Manager. Travis joined the team Feb. 16. He received his bachelor’s in human resources management/personnel administration from SIUE, ‘07, and has since had a lengthy HR career with a number of corporations, which include the nonprofits American Red Cross and United Way.  “I…