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Sept. 21, 2007 Distribution Center General Manager To Be Featured Speaker Reservations now being accepted for Nov. 8 celebration ST. JAMES—Dr. Brad E. Frazier, general manager of the Wal-Mart Logistics Distribution Center 6069 in St. James, will be the featured speaker at Meramec Regional Planning Commission Annual Dinner Nov. 8 in Sullivan. As general manager, Dr. Frazier was responsible for the successful start-up of the St. James regional facility in 2001. The 1.3 million square feet complex employs 1,200 personnel and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and generated 2.3 billion dollars in sales in FYE 2006. The St. James distribution center currently ranks in the top 3 in all of Wal-Mart logistics operations. Annual payroll exceeds $25 million. Frazier’s career with Wal-mart spans 16 years and includes serving as a logistics consultant for Wal-Mart International in Germany. Dr. Frazier will discuss what makes a community attractive to companies looking to expand. He will also discuss Wal-Mart’s volunteer program and why the company places such strong emphasis on volunteerism in a community. The public is invited to attend MRPC’s Annual Dinner, and reservations are now being accepted. Reservations can be made by contacting Ruth Whitaker at 573-265-2993 by Nov. 1. The cost is $22.50 per person. The Nov. 8 celebration is planned at St. Anthony Catholic School and will get under way at 4:30 p.m. with a short board meeting. The reception starts at 5 p.m. and dinner will follow at 6 p.m. Prepared by Catering Etc. of Sullivan, the buffet-style meal will feature roasted top round of beef and roast pork loin, a house specialty salad, mashed potatoes with gravy, broccoli and cauliflower blend with cheese sauce and a selection of homemade cheesecakes and carrot cakes. The awards program will begin at 7 p.m. In addition to Dr. Frazier’s presentation, MRPC will also honor volunteers from around the Meramec Region for their community service efforts. The Eugene E. Northern award, the highest honor given by MRPC for volunteerism and community service, will also be named at the dinner. MRPC will be celebrating 38 years of service with this Annual Dinner, which is hosted by the city of Sullivan. MRPC is a voluntary council of local governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Officers are Chairman Robert “Bob” Reed of Washington County, Vice Chairman Laura Antolak of Phelps County, Secretary Russell Scheulen of Osage County and Treasurer Gary Brown of Salem. A professional staff, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, transportation planning, housing assistance, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans, strategic planning and other services to member communities upon request. |