Education

MARCH 18, 2020

Jefferson City — Pursuant to Governor Mike Parson’s Executive Order 20-02 declaring a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 and a request from Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Governor Parson today signed Executive Order 20-03 ordering all Missouri municipal elections previously scheduled for April 7, 2020, to be postponed to June 2, 2020.

The Executive Order declares that ballots already printed for the April 7 election may be used at the postponed date of June 2. Voters who have attained the age of 18 by April 7 will be allowed to cast a ballot. 

“Given the growing concern surrounding COVID-19 and the large number of people elections attract, postponing Missouri’s municipal elections is a necessary step to help combat the spread of the virus and protect the health and safety of Missouri voters,” Governor Parson said. “Postponing an election is not easy, but we are all in this together. We are thankful to Secretary Ashcroft and our 116 election authorities for their leadership, cooperation, and commitment to doing what is best for their communities during this time.”

“I deeply appreciate Governor Parson’s quick approval and am thankful to the local election authorities – your county clerks and boards of election – who have worked through developing health concerns to find a unified and secure means of implementing our next election,” Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said. “Missouri has 116 separate election authorities, almost all who are elected in their own right, and we have come together to help protect Missouri voters. These are difficult times, but I am grateful for how we have responded, worked together and come to a resolution that helps every single Missouri voter.”

Section 44.100, RSMo, provides that during a state of emergency, the Governor is authorized to “waive or suspend the operation of any statutory requirement or administrative rule prescribing procedures for conducting state business, where strict compliance with such requirements and rules would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action by the department of health and senior services to respond to a declared emergency or increased health threat to the population.”

The Executive Order requires local election authorities to publish notice of the June 2 election as required in Section 115.127.2, RSMo. In addition, the Executive Order states:

• The closing date to register to vote in this election remains March 11.
• The deadline for filing as a write-in candidate for office remains March 27 at 5 p.m.
• The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot (Section 115.279, RSMo) shall be May 20.
• A public test of voting equipment shall be completed no later than June 1.
• In-person absentee ballots may be cast until 5 p.m. on June 1.
• The deadline by which absentee ballots must be received by the election authority (Section 115.293.1, RSMo) shall be 7 p.m. on June 2.
• Military and overseas voters must request a ballot from an election authority by 5 p.m. on May 29, and the deadline for local election authorities to make ballots available to such voters is April 18. Military and overseas ballots must be received by the election authority by June 5.
• Local election authorities are also directed to post information on their website, use social media if available, issue press release, conduct public appearances, and directly contact stakeholders such as candidates.

JANUARY 15, 2020

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson delivered the 2020 State of the State Address to the Missouri General Assembly. 

Governor Parson highlighted several of the state’s major successes in workforce development and infrastructure last year, including a $1.5 billion investment from General Motors and an $81.2 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding American grant to build a new I-70 Missouri River Bridge at Rocheport, among many others. 

Following a recap of 2019, Governor Parson’s speech focused on issues in four main areas for 2020: stronger communities, workforce and education, infrastructure, and government reform. 

“We have made record progress over the past year, but there is still more to do and much more we can achieve with hard work,” Governor Parson said. “That is why my call this legislative session is to propose initiatives aimed at building stronger communities, improving workforce development and education, revitalizing our aging infrastructure, and making government more accountable.”

Stronger Communities

After multiple meetings with the mayors of St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia, Governor Parson announced their solutions to help combat violent crime in Missouri. These include providing greater protection for victims and witnesses, providing more mental health resources and services, and strengthening laws to target violent criminals.

Governor Parson also shared the results of joint federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts in Kansas City and St. Louis to combat violent crime. Operation Triple Beam in Kansas City and Missouri’s commitment of state personnel in St. Louis have resulted in the arrest of hundreds of violent criminals and gang members and the seizure of nearly 30 pounds of illegal drugs. 

Workforce and Education

Governor Parson also emphasized the importance of early childhood education to workforce development in his speech, noting that Missouri recently received a $33.5 million preschool development grant aimed at creating a more effective, high-quality early learning system. 

With this funding, the state has an opportunity to strengthen its early childhood offerings and better prepare Missouri children for success. 

In addition to early childhood education, another focus for 2020 is increasing opportunities for high-demand job training at the high school level. Governor Parson announced his administration is seeking a $750,000 investment to certify approximately 12,000 new high school students as work-ready through the WorkKeys program. 

Governor Parson also announced an increase of $5.3 million in Bright Flight and A+ Scholarship funding for college bound students, as well as an additional $19 million for the MoExcels Workforce Training Initiative. 

Further, all of these investments can be made while increasing school transportation funding and again fully funding the Foundation Formula. 

Infrastructure 

Building on last year’s progress, Governor Parson again called for key investments in Missouri’s infrastructure, including $4 million in disaster recovery funds and another $50 million for the transportation cost-share program. 

Governor Parson also announced the approval of the Buck O’Neil Bridge project in Kansas City.

Government Reform

In his speech, Governor Parson highlighted the state’s efforts to drive efficiency and accountability for Missourians’ tax dollars, including a savings of $84 million in the Medicaid system. 

Governor Parson also announced several other actions the state can take to improve government and promote Missouri, including tort reform and license reciprocity for military spouses. 

Additionally, Governor Parson’s administration is proposing $100 million for a cash operating expense fund and directing a portion of Wayfair collections into this fund until it establishes solvency. The remainder of Wayfair collections will be used to payoff debt obligations and provide another funding source for infrastructure cost-share programs. 

“By working together on these issues, we can set the stage for greatness for Missouri," Governor Parson said. "My hope in the near future is that all of us will be able to celebrate more successes with one another, but the real benefits will be for the people of our state and our future generations.”

DECEMBER 23, 2019

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that the State of Missouri has received a $33.5 million grant aimed at coordinating a more effective, high-quality early learning system that better prepares Missouri children for success.

The “Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five (PDG B-5)” provides funding over three years to implement an interagency effort to provide regional access to coordinated early childhood services to better meet a family’s needs, enhance and streamline training opportunities for early learning professionals, and improve systems to better inform decision-making about early learning. 

“This is great news for our state that will allow our agencies and programs to come together and focus on the same goals to better serve communities across Missouri,” Governor Parson said. “The most important and impactful time of a child's development is the early years of his or her life. With this funding, we now have the opportunity to leverage existing infrastructure and data systems to strengthen our early childhood offerings, which is crucial to the development of a strong Missouri workforce.”

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will lead this effort for the state and work closely with other state agencies and organizations throughout the three-year process, including the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Mental Health, and the Missouri Head Start State Collaboration Office.

“Our team worked hard to compete for these much-needed dollars,” Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven said. “We look forward to working with our colleagues across the state to reshape the early learning landscape in Missouri and, ultimately, provide better access to early learning opportunities for all Missouri families.” 

“Collaboration among these many different agencies is essential to provide the full range of responsive services and support Missouri's young children and families really need,” said Missouri Head Start State Collaboration Office Director Stacey Wright.

Missouri first received $6.5 million in PDG B-5 funding in January 2019 for a one-year grant, which aimed to strengthen interagency collaboration and perform a statewide needs assessment. The grant also provided resources to build a strategic plan to develop measurable early childhood indicators that ultimately lead to children who are safe, healthy, and ready to learn.

This renewal grant builds upon the work done in 2019 and provides the funds to address the areas of early learning that need to be improved in Missouri, especially for the state’s most vulnerable children. 

“Low-income families have the greatest challenge in finding affordable, quality child care, especially in rural areas,” said Department of Social Services Acting Director Jennifer Tidball. “This grant enables those children to have safe care, an opportunity to learn, and access to essential services so they get the best possible start in life.”

Forty-five other states and territories submitted applications for this funding. Approximately half of those applicants were awarded PDG B-5 funding.

JUNE 11, 2019

Jefferson City — Missouri Governor Mike Parson, in conjunction with the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, announced that three Missouri schools were selected to each receive a DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center, valued at $100,000 apiece. The multi-million dollar DON’T QUIT! campaign has named Neosho Middle School (Neosho School District), West County Middle School (West St. Francois Co. R-IV), and Premier Charter School (St. Louis) as the state’s most outstanding schools for demonstrating leadership in getting and keeping their students fit.

"Being physically, mentally, and emotionally fit enhances the overall education of our students," Governor Parson said. "It's exciting that three Missouri schools won state-of-the-art fitness centers. This is just another example that helps our young people become successful."

School districts were invited to apply earlier this year, and Missouri communities rose to the challenge by submitting many exceptional entries for the NFGFC to evaluate.

“I am thrilled for the students of these three schools and for the opportunities that are ahead,” said Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Margie Vandeven. “Improving not just the physical fitness, but also the mental and emotional health of a child provides benefits that extend beyond the classroom. Projects such as these help Missouri take another big step towards its goal that all students graduate ready for success.”

The program has now awarded fitness centers in 32 states and will make its way into all 50 states in the coming years. Each fitness center is financed through public and private partnerships and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding. In addition, all fitness equipment is manufactured in the United States.

For more information about the National Foundation, visit www.natgovfit.org. 

MAY 17, 2019

Jefferson City — Today, the 100th General Assembly concluded, marking the end of a ‘historic’ session for jobs, growth, and life. Upon assuming office nearly one year ago, Governor Parson pledged a “fresh start” for Missourians. By working closely with members of the General Assembly, in a very short time, we’ve seen ‘historic’ progress on major issues facing our state - infrastructure and workforce development.

“This year’s Legislative Session was marked by historic progress on significant issues important to all Missourians,” Governor Parson said. “I applaud House and Senate leaders for partnering on the shared priorities of infrastructure and workforce development. Thanks to their leadership we were able to pass a comprehensive economic development strategy for growth across Missouri and take a substantial first step to meeting our state’s infrastructure needs.”

In the State of the State, Governor Parson laid out a bold agenda to move Missouri forward. The Governor’s call to focus on workforce development and infrastructure was answered by the Legislature with innovative legislation that will impact all Missourians.

ADVANCING THE NEEDS OF MISSOURI WORKING FAMILIES

SB 68, a “comprehensive economic development strategy,” includes several key elements of the Governor’s workforce development priorities. Fast Track is a new grant program that will allow Missourians to receive advanced training in high-demand fields, opening the doors for thousands of Missouri workers to gain new skills and job training to better support their families. Missouri One Start will help new and expanding businesses upgrade workers’ skills to meet their workforce demands. These are the tools Missouri needs to skill up our workforce and provide businesses necessary resources as the Governor fights to bring high-wage jobs back to our state.

“From day one, you’ve heard me talk about the importance of workforce development and infrastructure. These issues are not Democrat or Republican issues, these two priorities are key to moving Missouri forward,” Governor Parson said. “Missouri’s historic low unemployment, national leading small business wage growth, and low taxes are all working to keep our economy stronger than it has ever been. We added nearly 12,000 jobs just last month, and if we hope to continue these successes, we must put our best foot forward and compete to win, which is exactly what we’ve done this past session.”

“For years, Missouri has watched other states beat us at economic development. That ends today,” Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon said. “Missourians deserve the best, and thanks to Governor Parson and our legislators, we now have the tools to be the ‘Best in the Midwest’ and compete with every other state in the country for jobs and business growth.”

“Reimagining the way we approach postsecondary education and workforce development will provide Missourians with resources for the full range of options after high school -- from apprenticeships to certificates to doctoral programs,” Commissioner of Higher Education Zora Mulligan said. “With these bold moves, Governor Parson and the General Assembly have positioned Missouri as a national thought leader in workforce development.”

REBUILDING MISSOURI’S INFRASTRUCTURE

SCR 14 will allow Missouri to begin meeting infrastructure needs across the entire state without raising taxes. When fully implemented, the infrastructure plan will allow Missouri to fix 250 bridges identified by local entities as most in need of critical repair or replacement.

“On behalf of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, I applaud the Governor for advocating for more funding for transportation in Missouri,” said MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. “I also want to thank Missouri legislators for making an important investment in our state’s critical infrastructure needs. We appreciate policymakers coming together to develop an innovative solution to help address our backlog of unfunded transportation needs in Missouri.”

STRENGTHENING MISSOURI’S #1 INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE

SB 391 will open doors for Missouri farm and ranch families to meet growing world food demand and ensure Missouri keeps more agriculture production in our state.

“Agriculture is a family business in Missouri with more than 97% of our farms and ranches being family-owned,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “Under the leadership of Governor Parson, we will continue to make the future of agriculture a priority in this state. The latest Census of Agriculture proved that Missouri agriculture offers young people great opportunities in raising livestock like hogs, poultry, dairy, sheep, and goats. We applaud the Legislature for their commitment to strengthening our state’s number one industry and sending a strong signal to the next generation that they will have a vibrant rural community to return to. ”

FUNDAMENTALLY RESTRUCTURING STATE GOVERNMENT

The Governor’s proposal to improve economic and workforce development through a reorganization of state government was overwhelmingly supported by the General Assembly. These changes will streamline state government and ensure it produces better outcomes for Missourians.

Through these reorganization efforts, the overall size of government will be reduced by more than 475 positions. Along with cutting government waste, several state agencies were also restructured to increase their effectiveness and better serve Missourians. This included major reforms at the Department of Economic Development that decreased the agency’s size by 75%, while sharpening its focus on producing better outcomes.

Innovative solutions, such as consolidating two adjacent correctional facilities at a savings of $20 million, allowed long-overdue investments in correctional facility employees to be made, which will improve staff retention and citizen safety.

A BUSINESS SMART BUDGET THAT FUNDS OUR PRIORITIES

Additionally, the General Assembly passed a fiscally responsible budget, one that for the first time in a decade, left more than $100 million on the bottom line and kept the Governor's call to not spend every tax dollar.

In January, the Governor presented a business smart budget that funded the administration's priorities while demanding greater accountability and efficiency and making key new investments that will benefit all Missourians. In addition to new investments in workforce development and infrastructure, this year’s budget keeps our promise to Missouri’s next generation by fully funding the K-12 Foundation Formula. An increased investment in rural broadband will help continue the work of bringing high-speed broadband access to every Missouri community.

BOOMING ECONOMY: INCOMES ARE UP, TAXES ARE DOWN

Missouri’s business climate will also be improved through the passage of tort reform legislation. These reforms will improve our state’s competitiveness and provide another boost to Missouri’s strong economy created by years of pro-growth, low-tax policies. Thanks to additional tax cuts at the state and federal level implemented this year, more Missourians are going back to work, seeing an increase in take-home pay, and keeping more of their hard-earned money.

CREATING A CULTURE OF LIFE

The Legislative Session’s final day was highlighted by the General Assembly passing one of the strongest Pro-Life pieces of legislation in the country.

“I’m honored to lead a state with so many people committed to standing up for those without a voice and commend the Legislature for getting this bill to my desk,” Governor Parson said. “I pledge to sign this vital legislation as a strong message to the nation that here in Missouri we will always stand for life, protect women’s health, and advocate for the unborn.”

APRIL 16, 2019

Springfield — Today, Governor Mike Parson visited the Advanced Manufacturing Job Fair at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield to announce the creation of 500 new training opportunities with the Certified Production Technician (CPT) certificate.

The goal of the CPT certification program is to raise the level of performance of production workers, in a high-demand field, both to assist the individuals in finding higher-wage jobs and to help employers ensure their workforce increases the company’s productivity and competitiveness. The CPT credential will be available statewide at all public two-year institutions that offer a standardized Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) credential, preparing workers to enter the industry and advance along a manufacturing career pathway. Participants who complete the CPT credential have the potential to earn an annual starting salary of $30,000.

In his State of the State address, the Governor announced his commitment to workforce development by updating training pipelines to ensure economic growth in Missouri and partnering with employers to develop that talent.

“One out of four jobs in Missouri directly supports our strong manufacturing industry," said Governor Parson. "It is important we remain focused on building and ensuring that our workforce is prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow. Today, we recognized employers who are committed to taking the steps to ensure that workers are adequately trained and have opportunities to succeed,” said Governor Parson. 

Advanced Manufacturing represents 8.6 percent of Missouri’s total private sector employment, employing 202,419 workers across 9,727 establishments in 29 industries. More than a quarter of all jobs in Missouri support the manufacturing industry, with an anticipated growth of nearly 10 percent by 2026.

MARCH 25, 2019

Warrensburg — – Governor Mike Parson today kicked off a middle school conference at the University of Central Missouri celebrating science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM). Hundreds of seventh and eighth graders from nearly 30 Missouri schools are participating in the event, which focuses on the importance of STEAM fields in the workplace.

“It’s exciting to see so many students gathered to explore and learn about gaining the skills and talents to succeed in their future workplace. Developing our future workforce is a top priority with this administration, and we are committed to expanding STEAM education opportunities for Missouri students,” said Governor Parson. “As we work to move Missouri forward, these students are learning the skills that give them a chance to change the world.”

Conference sessions throughout the day include hands-on opportunities in marketing, agriculture, cybersecurity, music and the visual arts, crime-scene forensics, and more. Students are grouped to participate in three different STEAM career sessions based on results from a career inventory given at their home schools. Students will also spend time touring the UCM campus.

The conference is a cooperative effort of the Office of College and Career Readiness within the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Central and Kansas City Regional Professional Development Centers, and the University of Central Missouri.

MARCH 19, 2019

Jefferson City — – The major restructuring of four state agencies has moved to the next phase, signaling another step forward in Governor Mike Parson’s agenda to improve economic and workforce development in Missouri.

Monday marked the end of the 60-day period in which the legislature could vote to oppose the proposed changes announced by Governor Parson through a series of executive orders issued in January. 

The next two phases of the restructuring occur on July 1, when the state’s fiscal year begins, and August 28, when the executive orders take effect. In the interim, the state agencies will continue working together to ensure that these vital services will continue without interruption.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the legislature throughout this process,” Governor Mike Parson said. “They’ve been engaged all along the way, and it’s an honor to work with these leaders as we set out to become Best in Midwest.”

What is changing:

• The Division of Workforce Development and Missouri Economic Research and Information Center will move to the Department of Higher Education to establish a single resource in state government for all postsecondary education options.
• The Division of Energy will return to the Department of Natural Resources.
• The Office of Public Councel and the Public Service Commission will join similarly structured Tier III regulatory agencies at the newly named Department of Commerce and Insurance.
• The Missouri Arts Council will be elevated to the Office of the Lt. Governor.
• The Department of Economic Development will shift to have staff based across Missouri in order to better meet the unique needs of each economic region and will form a new division that will specifically help businesses address workforce needs as they hire and train workers for large expansions.

The reorganization comes after months of research and the involvement of thousands of Missourians, the results of which were shared during the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development last fall.

The research delved into the complexity of Missouri’s economic development agency, finding that the Department of Economic Development has more employees and houses more functions than any of its Midwest peers. In addition, the research showed that other states outperform the agency in nearly every measure—including those pertaining to workforce development.

What state leaders are saying about the changes:

“I completely support the Governor’s and Director Dixon’s efforts to focus the Department of Economic Development. An important role of the Lt. Governor is to be a champion for tourism and the arts and these changes formalize this important function while allowing DED to focus exclusively on economic development,” Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe said. “This is a significant occasion, and I look forward to helping promote the importance of the arts throughout Missouri.”

 “Transferring the Division of Energy back to the Department of Natural Resources will benefit the State of Missouri by expanding our Department’s ability to balance a healthy environment with a healthy economy," Carol Comer, Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources said. “We look forward to focusing our efforts on an affordable and reliable energy strategy for the State of Missouri.”

“When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority,” Rob Dixon, Department of Economic Development Director said. “We saw that in the data. We see it in our agency, and with the support of thousands of Missourians across our state, we’re doing something about it. This is a historic moment, and we’re excited to move forward with the transition, knowing we have the support of our partners and legislators across the state.”

 “We’re happy to officially welcome the Public Service Commission and the Office of Public Counsel to our department,” DIFP Director Chlora Lindley-Myers said. “As we become the newly named Department of Commerce and Insurance, we’ll continue to work diligently to protect the consumers of our state and provide a level playing field for the industries we regulate.”

“This change gives Missourians a resource for the full range of postsecondary options – from apprenticeships to certificates to doctoral programs,” Commissioner of Higher Education Zora Mulligan said. “This is consistent with national trends toward recognizing the value of shorter-term, lower-cost programs, and through this bold move Governor Parson will be positioning Missouri as a thought leader in this area.”

MARCH 13, 2019

Jefferson City — – Today, Governor Parson signed Executive Order 19-04 to create a Missouri School Safety Task Force during a school assembly at Blair Oaks High School. The individuals on the Task Force present at the press conference were the following:

• Governor Michael L. Parson
• Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe
• Director Sandy Karsten, Department of Public Safety
• Director Mark Stringer, Department of Mental Health
• Commissioner Margie Vandeven, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
• Melissa Randol, Executive Director of Missouri School Boards’ Association
• Paul Fennewald, Senior Policy Advisor to the Center for Education Safety

“As a grandfather and as Governor, I expect schools to be safe places from the time a student steps onto the bus in the morning, until he or she steps off in the afternoon. Unfortunately, I know from my time as a law enforcement officer that there are people in the world who seek to prey on those who are often unable to protect themselves,” Governor Parson said. “As a state, we need to ensure we are providing the tools and guidance to help local education leaders make our schools as safe as possible.”

The Governor directed Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe to lead the task force and work with the Department of Public Safety, Department of Mental Health, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Missouri School Boards’ Association, the Center for Education Safety, and a school resource officer to develop a strategic statewide plan for school safety.

“I appreciate Governor Parson’s leadership on this important topic, and I look forward to working with experts like Paul Fennewald, Director Karsten, Commissioner Vandeven, Executive Director Randol, and others to help keep Missouri students safe,” Lieutenant Governor Kehoe said. “We need input from local districts and local law enforcement, and we will be aggressively seeking these insights in the coming weeks.”

The task force will be meeting over the coming weeks and submit a report of its findings and recommendations by July 31, 2019. The task force will be studying the recently released Federal Commission on School Safety report from Missouri’s perspective to identify gaps, shortfalls, or suggested policy changes.

“School leaders and teachers across Missouri work hard every day to keep our students safe at school,” Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Margie Vandeven said. “We look forward to working with them and their communities to confront the ever-changing challenges this effort entails.”

“School safety is a multi-faceted issue that requires collaboration, communication and strong, active partnerships between law enforcement agencies, schools and across communities,” Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. “We stand ready to support the task force and strengthen our partnerships with all groups that work to protect children and enhance school safety.”      

“The creation of the Missouri School Safety Task Force is important to helping all schools in the state be prepared for natural and human caused disasters,” Department of Mental Health Director Mark Stringer said. “Schools also need better access to mental health care to assist students with mental health challenges.”  

The full Executive Order can be found here:  https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2019/eo4

MARCH 12, 2019

Jefferson City — – Today, Governor Parson announced 10 new appointments to various boards and commissions.

Vernon Vito Bracy, of Chesterfield, was appointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.

Mr. Bracy is the CEO/President of Renaissance Voice Communications and has served in that role since 2009. He has worked in the sales field for medical devices, technology, insurance, and Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Bracy is a graduate of Lincoln University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications.

Richard L. Ebersold, of St. Joseph, was appointed to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors.

Mr. Ebersold is currently the Director of Herzog Services, Inc., headquartered in Saint Joseph, after retiring as the company President in 2016. He has spent 46 years of his professional career with Herzog. Mr. Ebersold is an alumni of Missouri Western State University. He has served as a Board Member with the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association and is a member of American Legion Post 132 King City.

Sherry Jones, of Dawn, was reappointed to the State Fair Commission.

Ms. Jones owns and operates C.D. Jones Land and Cattle Co. with her husband. Ms. Jones is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri with a degree in marketing and finance. She spent 27 years in the banking industry with Bank Midwest, including time as vice president. Ms. Jones still serves in a part-time capacity for the bank facilitating an ongoing education program in the local school system. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Livingston County Farm Bureau Board, on the Board of Directors for FCS Financial, and as a member of the Missouri Agriculture and Small Business Development Authority. Her community involvement includes working with local 4-H and FFA groups.

Alan L. Landes, of St. Joseph, was appointed to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors.

Mr. Landes is the President and COO of Herzog Contracting Corp., which is headquartered in Saint Joseph, and is a Principal of Herzog Transit Services, Inc. He has been an employee of Herzog for 45 years in both technical and managerial positions. Under his leadership and direction, the company has grown from a small, regional company into a nationwide highway, mass transit, and infrastructures contractor. Mr. Landes is active in many community organizations and industry associations. He is the past President of the Board of Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation and completed his terms as the President of the Associated General Contractors of America in 2015.

Lowell Mohler, of Jefferson City, was reappointed to the State Fair Commission.

Mr. Mohler is retired from a career that included 26 years with the Missouri Farm Bureau and time as the Director of the Department of Agriculture from 2000-2003. He also served for six years as a Commissioner with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Mr. Mohler graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Technology. He currently still farms near Jefferson City with his wife and is active with several conservation organizations in addition to his service on the State Fair Commission.

Brian Munzlinger, of Williamstown, was appointed to the Board of Probation and Parole.

Mr. Munzlinger operates a third generation row crop farm with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. He recently termed out as State Senator of the 18^th District after a 16-year career in the Missouri Legislature, where he served in both the House of Representatives and Senate. During his time in the Senate, he served on numerous committees and was a member of Senate leadership. Mr. Munzlinger is a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Corn Growers Association, and the Missouri Soybean Association.

Victor Barnett Pasley, of Columbia, was appointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.

Mr. Pasley retired from Xerox Corporation in 2010 after 32 years as a member of their executive team. He held a number of district, regional, and headquarter leadership assignments both domestic and international. Mr. Pasley spent three years in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Captain with a tour of duty in The Republic of Vietnam. He also spent seven years as a teacher and assistant principal. Mr. Pasley holds a certificate of General Management – Harvard Business School; Master of Science in Education Administration – Northern Illinois University; and a Bachelor of Science in Education – Lincoln University of Missouri. He has served on the Lincoln University of Missouri Foundation Board since 2006.

Richard Popp, of Tebbetts, was appointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.

Mr. Popp recently retired from Central Bancompany in Jefferson City after 37 years with the company. He served in a variety of capacities with the company, including as Executive Vice President – Chief Risk Officer from 2005-2019. Mr. Popp holds a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Kevin Roberts, of Hillsboro, was reappointed to the State Fair Commission.

Mr. Roberts is an attorney and works as a partner at the firm Roberts, Wooten, and Zimmer, LLC. He has practiced law for the last 34 years in Jefferson County, trying numerous civil and criminal jury trials. Mr. Roberts received a Bachelor’s Degree from South Dakota State University. He moved to Missouri to attend the University of Missouri School of Law and has spent the entirety of his career in Missouri after earning his Juris Doctorate. Mr. Roberts has served on the Board of Directors for the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and the Jefferson County YMCA, as President of the Hillsboro School Board, and as Chairman of the Missouri Lottery Commission. He is currently the Chairman of the State Fair Commission.

Mary Sheid, of West Plains, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

Ms. Sheid is the Owner/CEO of Physical Therapy Specialists Clinic, Inc. and has served in that capacity since starting the clinic in 1990. Her previous career experience was as Director of Physical Therapy at Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains. Ms. Sheid holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Missouri and a second Bachelor’s Degree from Drury College. She has served in an array of capacities for professional and community organizations, including on the Missouri State University Board of Governors, the Missouri Physical Therapy Association Board of Directions, the Southern Ozarks Alliance of Rural Development, and the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. Ms. Sheid is the recipient of a number of awards including the McKenzie Institute International “Bronze Lady” Excellence Award in 2015.