CCEM Past Presidents

A distinguished group of individuals have served as President of CCEM over the years.

1975-1976 M. Edward Kelly, Springfield
1976-1977 Unknown
1977-1978 Unknown
1978-1979 Vernon Seigal, Kirksville
1979-1980 Ray Bradsher, Northland
1980-1981 William Gaut, Springfield
1981-1982 Donna Thomas, Nevada-Vernon County
1982-1983 Jim Anderson, Jefferson City
1983-1984 Sam Cartwright, Joplin
1984-1985 Rosemarie Surwillo, St. Charles

1985-1986 June Dodd, Columbia
1986-1987 David May, Independence
1987-1988 Ed Dust, Poplar Bluff
1988-1989 Alan Kenyon, St. Joseph
1989-1990 Sheila Tracy, Richmond
1990-1991 Joan Schmelig, Chesterfield
1991-1992 Gary Plummer, Jefferson City
1992-1993 Gary Tonjes, Joplin
1993-1994 Don Laird, Columbia
1994-1995 Diana Weidinger, Florissant Valley

1995-1996 Joe Evans, West Plains
1996-1997 Nancy Stuenkel, Hannibal







1997-1998    John Mehner, Cape Girardeau
1998-1999     Tracey Osborne, Joplin
1999-2000    Rob Cunningham, St. Peters
2000-2001    Nancy Bruns, Lee's Summit
2001-2002    Patt Lilly, St. Joseph
2002-2003   Brad Bodenhausen, Springfield
2003-2004  Rob O'Brian, Joplin
2004-2005  Tammy Long, Warrensburg

2005-2006  Vickie Wolgast, South Kansas City
2006-2007  Trisha Creach, Lake Area
2007-2008  Jim Wright, Kirkwood/Des Peres
2008-2009  Alisa Kigar, Kirksville
2009-2010   Kim Lester, Joplin
2010-2011     Tim Arbeiter, Cape Girardeau
2011-2012     Karla Martinez, Northland Area
2012-2013    Stevie Kearse, Rolla
2013-2014   Erin Williams, O'Fallon
2014-2015   Brent McCoy, Springfield
2015-2016   Ginger LaMar, Joplin
2016-2017   Victoria Brees, Columbia
2017-2018   Natalie Redmond, St. Joseph
2018-2019   Kim Voelker, Cape Girardeau

2019-2020     Monica Evinger, Branson

CCEM Top Level Award

The CCEM Top Level Award is presented to an individual who has made a strong contribution to the chamber of commerce profession and/or to the economy of the state to merit special recognition by CCEM. Nominees may represent any segment of the economy. Past award winners come from the chamber of commerce profession, private industry and government. A list of the past recipients is listed below.

  • Frank Russell, Executive Director of Hannibal Chamber
  • Frank Lawrence, Executive V.P. of St. Louis Chamber
  • Jack Jones, State Senator from Carrollton
  • Durward Hall, US Congressman
  • Dwight Bedell, Kansas City Industrial Manager
  • William McDonnell, Chairman Finance Committee, St. Louis/San Francisco Railroad
  • George Catts, Executive V.P., Kansas City Chamber
  • John Thompson, Executive V.P., Missouri Chamber
  • Albert Sprading, State Senator from Cape Girardeau
  • Ralph Powell, Executive V.P., Springfield Chamber
  • Allen Robinson, Executive V.P., Cape Girardeau Chamber
  • William Lowe, Chairman/CEO of AP Green in Mexico
  • Leo Hayob, Executive, Marshall Chamber
  • Bob Rhoades, Plant Manager, Armco Steel
  • J. Delbert Wells, Education Manager, Missouri Chamber
  • J. Neil Coffin, V.P. of Program Development, Missouri Chamber
  • William Quigg, President of Central Bank
  • Ed Owsley, President/CEO, Rolla Chamber
  • Robert B. Hendrix, President/CEO, Cape Girardeau Chamber
  • James B. Anderson, CCE, President, Springfield Chamber
  • David May, President, Independence Chamber
  • Joan Schmelig, Executive Director, Chesterfield Chamber
  • Donald M. Laird, CCE, Executive V.P., Columbia Chamber
  • Sheila Tracy, CCE, President, KCI/Northland Regional Chamber
  • Diana Weidinger, Executive V.P., Florissant Valley Chamber
  • Nancy Bruns, CCE, President, Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce
  • John Mehner, CCE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Rob O'Brian, President, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Kristi Ray, CCE, Executive Vice President, Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, Iowa
  • Patt Lilly, President/CEO, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
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