NEW SENIOR TECHNICIAN JOINS OATES ASSOCIATES

Oates Associates has been welcoming new employees as the firm leans into expanding its staff to support continuous growth.

The latest addition to the firm’s team is Danny Gray, Jr., who joins as a senior technician.

Danny brings 26 years of professional experience in the telecommunications industry. His expertise makes him familiar with common practices at Oates Associates, and he brings familiarity with office and field operations.

Oates Associates is a multi-disciplined design firm with offices in Collinsville and Belleville, Illinois and St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri. Oates provides engineering and surveying services for transportation and building projects. Specifically, this includes transportation and traffic engineering, ADA transition planning, stormwater management, site design, building and bridge structural design and inspections, surveying and drone operations.

For more information, visit www.oatesassociates.com or call 618.345.2200.

Impact Strategies Announces New Preconstruction Department Leadership

IMPACT Strategies is proud to announce new leadership in its preconstruction department. The firm has promoted Jason Toennies from Senior Estimator to Director of Estimating, and Derek Schaefer from Preconstruction Manager to Director of Preconstruction. The promotion of these two key staff members to senior leadership positions is part of the firm’s strategic business plan for continued growth in its St. Louis and Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana (OKI) markets. IMPACT Strategies celebrated a record year in 2022 with more than $110 million in completed projects throughout five midwestern states.

Jason Toennies holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville. Jason joined IMPACT Strategies in 2007 and brings more than 25 years of experience to his new role as Director of Estimating.

Director of Pre-Construction Derek Schaefer has 15 years of experience in the construction industry. He graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management. He also earned the Design-Build Institute of America’s DBIA designation as a nationally certified Design-Build Professional in 2022. Derek joined IMPACT Strategies in 2013.

Toennies and Schaefer have been a part of numerous high-profile IMPACT Strategies projects, including Altair at the Heights in Richmond Heights, MO; 2200 LaSalle at Lafayette Park; several projects for BJC Health System; and numerous industrial buildings at Fenton Logistics Park.

The development and promotion of these new leaders allows for the future transition of Executive VP Mike Christ to a part-time role, expected in early 2024. Christ will remain a member of the firm’s executive leadership and will act as a mentor and coach for Toennies and Schaefer. Christ will also continue to lead IMPACT Strategies’ virtual design and construction (VDC) initiative.

IMPACT Strategies President Mark Hinrichs said, “As part of our long-term leadership planning and the continued growth of our firm, I am very excited to see Jason and Derek step into their new roles. Each is a strong, capable leader with a track record of success – they will be instrumental in taking our already high-performing preconstruction department to new heights.”

WOMAN-OWNED SAWDUST AND GLITTER ANNOUNCES MOVE TO HISTORIC LOFTS ON THE SQUARE

Sawdust and Glitter, a beloved DIY space and home decor store known for its unique and handcrafted items, is excited to announce its relocation to a new, larger space in the Lofts on the Square building at 16 S. Illinois, Suite A in Belleville, IL. The move marks the first retail space in the newly renovated historic building on the national historic registry. The new location is now open and will feature a larger retail space, more storage, and more room for crafting workshops and events than it had at its old location. Sawdust & Glitter opened at 119 E Main St. December 1, 2019, just before the pandemic began. “It has been a crazy uphill battle, but coming out of the pandemic we are thriving, and growing, thanks to our amazing customers”

Owned by Lacie Loose, Sawdust and Glitter has been a staple of the Belleville community for years, offering a wide range of handmade products and DIY crafting workshops. The move to the Lofts on the Square building is a significant milestone for the business and represents a major investment in the historic downtown area.

“The new space is truly stunning,” said Lacie Loose, owner of Sawdust and Glitter. “Not only does it offer us more room to expand our product offerings and DIY workshops, but it also features a beautiful view of the iconic fountain. I cannot wait to have a stunning view of the fountain when it is turned on for the season, especially at night, it will make a great backdrop for our customers photos. The natural light from the large windows creates an inviting atmosphere that we know our customers will love.”

The move to the new location will allow Sawdust and Glitter to expand its product offerings, including handmade furniture, home decor, and gifts. The store will continue to offer a wide range of DIY crafting workshops for all ages and skill levels, including making your own tumblers, painting classes, candle making, and more.

“We are excited for our move and to continue to be a part of the downtown community and to create a focal point for many events in the area,” said Loose. “The Lofts on the Square building is the perfect home for our store, and we can’t wait to welcome our customers to our new space. The floor to ceiling windows that wrap the space allow people to see what we have to offer from all angles. People driving down 159, will be able to see our DIY classes going on, and from the square you have a great view of our entire retail section, as well as the DIY area. “

“The move to the new location has given us the space we need to pursue another dream of mine, opening a boutique named B Time Three Boutique,” said Lacie Loose. B Time Three Boutique will be located inside the new Sawdust and Glitter space and will feature a selection of clothing, shoes, and accessories. The boutique will offer a range of styles for women of all ages and sizes.

The addition of the boutique will add another element to store that fits perfectly with my mission. “I want to create a space where people can come and feel inspired, confident, and creative . When people leave my shop, my hope is I achieved that goal.”

For more information about Sawdust and Glitter’s relocation and new products, visit their website at sawdustnglitter.com or follow them on social media at sawdust.n.glitter.

HSHS ST. ELIZABETH’S WOUND CARE CENTER RECOGNIZED FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Wound Care Center has been named a recipient of the Center of Distinction award by Healogics®, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. This is the third consecutive year that the center has achieved this recognition.

The Wound Care Center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including a patient satisfaction rate higher than 92%. There were 532 centers eligible for the Center of Distinction award and 305 achieved the honor. Other Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals receiving this same honor include HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our Wound Care Center team for once again achieving this national distinction,” shared St. Elizabeth’s Hospital President and CEO Chris Klay. “The compassionate, high-quality care that our Wound Care Center team provides to their patients is life-changing for many. This award represents their commitment to providing top-tier care that is consistent, and we congratulate the entire team for their ongoing competence in serving our patients.”

St. Elizabeth’s Wound Care Center is a member of the Healogics network of over 600 Wound Care Centers® and offers highly specialized wound care to patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds which have not healed in a reasonable amount of time.

Advanced wound care modalities provided by the hospital’s wound care experts include negative pressure wound therapy, total contact casting, bio-engineered tissues, biosynthetic dressings and growth factor therapies. The center also offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which works by surrounding the patient with 100% oxygen to help progress the healing of the wound.

Jennifer Steiner, RN and clinical program director for St. Elizabeth’s Wound Care Center, said, “Our team members take extreme pride in making sure that we provide the best care collaboratively and provide the most effective treatments for our patients. Our focus is always to find the cause, heal the wound and help educate the patient on preventing future wounds and avoiding other related health problems,” she said. “We are devoted to healing problem wounds for our patients and helping them reclaim the quality of their lives. We enjoy celebrating with our patients when we can release them from our care because their wound has been healed.”

If you or a loved one is suffering from a wound that has not begun to heal after four weeks with traditional treatment methods, contact St. Elizabeth’s Wound Care Center at 618-234-2120, ext. 32742.