Rapid growth in the early 1980's brought with it numerous small business awards including SBA "Woman's Business Advocate" and "Small Business Entrepreneur," U.S. Chamber of Commerce "Blue Chip Enterprise" and Business Journal "Fastest Growing Companies."

An advocate and public speaker for woman & diversity business enterprises, Christine was one of a handful of women to testify before Congress in 1989 on HR 5050 which birthed the Women’s Business Ownership Act.

Christine was the first woman ever elected to the National Board of Directors of Safety Equipment Distributors Association (SEDA). She is past chairperson of Brentwood Economic Development Council, past President of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and has served on the Society's "Body of Knowledge" (BoK) task force.

As part of the United States SBA 50th anniversary, Christine was one of five women in the Nation to receive the 'Celebrating Women in Business Award.' And for their commitment to our Nation's defense while supporting two employees activated by 'Operation Noble Eagle' and 'Operation Iraqi Freedom,' the company received the 2004 DOD ESGR (Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve) 'FREEDOM award.'

Invited to be part of the largest privately funded construction project in America’s history, MGM CityCenter, Bierman opened a branch of Colt SAFETY in Las Vegas, NV in 2006. Bierman’s daughter Shannel Bierman is President of the operations in Las Vegas.

The company, selected as "One of St. Louis’s Best Places to Work," has a mission to "protect America’s workforce." Christine's personal mission is to be a positive resource to family, friends and staff. She measures success by "the lives we touch, the lives we change and those we see smile on our journey.”

Term: 4/8/2010 to 12/6/2011
Party Affiliation: Democrat

Melodee is also committed to community and civic services, currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem on the Joplin Mo City Council. As an elected official since April 2006, she has served on the Missouri Municipal Leagues Economic Development & Human Resources Board, and on the National League of Cities F.A.I.R. Policy Board. She also serves on the Missouri Southern State University Robert Plaster School of Business Advisory Board, the Joplin Metro Credit Union Board of Directors, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, V.P. Joplin Emancipation Committee, NAACP and the Main Street Joplin Alliance.

A graduate of Missouri Southern State University with a Marketing Degree, Melodee worked, for over 13 years with a Mall development company as an Assistant Manager and Business Development Director. She also holds a MO Real Estate License with Charles Burt Realtors.

Melodee resides in Joplin Mo with her husband William Kean Jr. They have four children. She is a member of Unity Missionary Baptist Church and serves as Assistant Recording Secretary.

Term: 3/31/2010 to 12/6/2011
Party Affiliation: Democrat

Board Chair
Michelle J. Word
Manager of Supplier Diversity,
Burns & McDonnell
Michelle Word is manager of Supplier Diversity for Burns & McDonnell. She has been with the company for five years and is developer of the company’s supplier diversity procedures and policies. She is responsible for ensuring the company locates, utilizes and develops diverse businesses.

She also works externally to educate prospective suppliers and subcontractors about Burns & McDonnell’s supplier diversity objectives and project participation. She is also responsible for internal education of project managers, procurement personnel and others in the company about the importance of cultivating and maintaining a diverse supplier base and methods to achieve this objective.

Michelle maintains active participation in several organizations with a goal to increase business development opportunities between majority and small/diverse businesses. These organizations include the MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council, the Hispanic Chamber of Greater Kansas City, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the Minority Contractors Association, and the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council. Additionally, she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Jackson County Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Michelle resides in Kansas City, MO. She has two grown daughters, Lauren Ashley Grimmett and Kristen Alexandria Peterson.

She received her undergraduate degree from Lincoln University and her Masters in Business Administration from William Woods University. At Lincoln University, Althoff was appointed to the Women’s Leadership Academy which focuses on the preparation of talented women for the workforce and for future leadership roles. It also fostered mentorship for high school girls and young college women. Althoff interned for the Missouri Women’s Council and assisted in creating and publishing the Missouri Business Resource Directory. She is also a graduate of the Sue Shear Institute’s 21st Century Leadership Academy located in St. Louis, Missouri.

She has held positions at the Missouri Public Service Commission, Missouri Public School Retirement System, National SAFE KIDS Coalition and the American Cancer Society.