People In Business

Dual credit student Kimberly Price, of Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, brought home the first-place prize, and $100 cash, in the 2026 “You Have A Voice!” humanities speech contest. The contest is held annually at Lewis and Clark Community College by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society and hosted by Elizabeth Grant, PTK sponsor…

First Bankers Trust Company N.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Bankers Trustshares Inc., recently announced that Chris Williams has joined the organization as chief credit officer, effective April 8, 2026. In this role, Williams will be responsible for overseeing the overall credit risk of the bank’s loan portfolio. He will work closely with the bank’s…

S. M. Wilson & Co. has added Brent Fallert as senior superintendent and Chris Becker as superintendent. Fallert brings more than 20 years of industry experience, including large-scale commercial and residential project experience. He also has experience in tilt-up construction as a concrete foreman. In his early career, Fallert was a union carpenter and built…

Madison County Regional Superintendent Dr. Robert W. Werden, along with Mr. Mannie Jackson and Dr. Ed Hightower, have announced the winners of the Alma Irene Aitch Scholarship for Madison County, Ill., high school seniors. This award is given in the amount of $1,000 each to 11 graduating seniors from across Madison County who displayed high…

  The SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) student chapter of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) recently returned from ADEA’s Annual Session, hosted in Montréal, Canada, as winners of a Silver Chapter Recognition as well as the ADEA Student Chapter Community Impact Award. The Community Impact Award, a monetary gift of $350, recognized the students’ involvement with the BESt Healthcare Institute, introducing and inspiring multicultural high school…

Oculus Inc., an award-winning, WBE-certified architecture and interior design firm, recently announced the addition of John Berendzen, AIA, LEED AP, as senior project architect and thought leader to the firm’s St. Louis office. In his role, Berendzen will help expand Oculus’s capabilities in workplace and industrial environments while collaborating on projects across commercial sectors, including…

Recipients include ones from the Metro East region   The Illinois Department of Transportation recently announced five award recipients from the 35th Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward, recognizing achievements that helped to grow and support minority- and women-owned businesses in 2025. ​ “The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program has many success stories that help bring innovation and…

  Southern Illinois University Carbondale students continue to show they can compete with advertising professionals at the regional ADDYs. Saluki advertising students brought home a bevy of honors in the recent American Advertising Federation of Southern Illinois American Advertising Awards They earned 20 gold and nine silver ADDYS in the competition where their work is…

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recently named William Garrison McCuen, Jr. as the university’s principal architect; a significant role in the shaping of the built environment at SIUE and affiliated campuses. McCuen brings pertinent experience to the university with his design leadership in practices at home and abroad. From serving as design director for two east…

  3D art first place winner was student from Belleville East High School The talent and artistic skills of Illinois High School juniors and seniors were on full display at the third annual Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Art and Design statewide online art competition. SIU faculty selected the top finishers in each of the three…